27. 11. 78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 283/35 
Article 20 (2) 
Same comment as for Article 2 (2). 
Article 22 (a), second indent 
The Committee considers that it will be very difficult to 
check the exact circumstances under which catering 
supplies are bought in a third country. 
Article 26 
This Article leaves it to the individual Member States to 
decide the authorized quantities. The maximum quan­
tities should be fixed by a Commission Regulation under Article 31 in such a way that there is no appreciable 
difference between the Member States. 
The Committee would also refer to its general com­
ments. 
Additional comments 
None of the provisions in the proposal takes account of 
the presence of duty-free shops (even for travel between 
Member States) on certain means of transport qualify­
ing for the customs procedure for stores intended for 
consumption on board (ships, aircraft). 
The Committee would like to see specific rules in this 
field to put an end to the present discrimination be­
tween the different modes of transport. 
Done at Brussels, 20 June 1978. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the limitation of the noise emitted by 
compressors 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 94 of 19 April 1978, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 13 April 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 160th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 20 and 21 June 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
No C 283/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 11. 78 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 14 April 1978 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 25 
April 1978 instructing the Section for Industry, Com­
merce, Crafts and Services to prepare an opinion and a 
report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services on 14 June 
1978, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the rappor­
teur, Mr Marvier, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 160th plenary 
session held on 20 and 21 June 1978 (meeting of 20 
June 1978), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee approves the Commission's proposal, 
subject to the general and specific comments set out 
below. 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's 
proposal, which seeks to reduce the noise emitted by 
compressors by approximating the relevant legislation. 
Approximation will also ensure that compressors can be 
marketed freely in the common market, by preventing 
the erection of new barriers in Member States which 
have no special legislation in this field, etc. 
1.2. The proposed reduction of compressors' noise 
levels in two stages is considered by the Committee to 
be acceptable, for it will allow manufacturers enough 
time to make the necessary technical adjustments. improvement of the environment, the Committee agrees 
with the Commission that there should be 'total har­
monization'. 
1.4. The Committee is gratified to note that the 
Commission has consulted interested parties in industry 
and worked in conjunction with other international 
organizations and that, at least as far as the methods of 
measurement are concerned, the norms it has opted for 
are identical to those adopted by the ISO (ISO Standard 
4872). 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Articles 1 and 2 
It is quite clear that the Directive will cover compressors 
using a variety of engines and motors (petrol, diesel, 
electric, etc.), though only those which fall within the 
scope of the outline Directive. 
2.2. Article 3 
Since EEC type-approval or type verification is no 
guarantee that all compressors put on the market com­
ply with requirements, the Member States should carry 
out spot checks. Accordingly, the second sentence of 
Article 3 should be amended as follows: 
'In particular, they shall perform spot checks.' 
It is clear, however, that the form the spot checks take 
should be aligned, as it has been in other Directives (e.g.v 
the Directive on the suppression of radio interference) 
(1). The problem of carrying out field checks on sound 
levels should be regulated later within the framework of 
the European Communities' environmental action pro­
gramme. 
2.3. Article 4 
The Committee considers that the m3/min classes and 
the sound power levels selected by the Commission 
represent a compromise between economic and en-
1.3. Since the reduction of compressors' noise levels 
has a direct bearing on working conditions and the (J) OJ No L 336, 4. 12. 1976, p. 22. 
27. 11. 78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 283/37 
vironmental protection requirements. It would seem, 
however, that the definitive sound limits may very well 
increase production costs and, at all events, will be 
more difficult for manufacturers to adjust to. This is 
why the Committee, while accepting the principle of 
two stages, would like the date on which the definitive 
limits enter into force to be extended. This date could 
be at least five years after the date of the Directive's 
adoption so that allowance could be made for the re­
sults of the Directive's first few years in force. 
Done at Brussels, 20 June 1978. 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 49, 
84 (2) and 100 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council on 5 
June 1978 for an opinion on the aforementioned pro­
posal, 2.4. Article 7 
The Committee understands the reasons for Member 
States being given the freedom, in Article 7 (2), to take 
special measures in certain areas. It considers, however, 
that so as to avoid discrimination the Commission 
should determine more precisely how far these measures 
might go, and — at all events — should ensure that they 
do not lead to the erection of artificial barriers to trade 
in compressors. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 19 
June 1978 instructing a rapporteur-general to prepare 
an opinion in view of the urgency of the matter, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in particu­
lar Articles 18 and 46 thereof, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur-general, Mr Hoffmann, Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive concerning the ratification of conventions 
on safety in shipping 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official journal of the European 
Communities No C 135 of 9 June 1978, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 2 June 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Articles 49, 84 (2) and 100 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 160th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 20 and 21 June 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: