6.7.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC169/11
4.Finalobservations
4.1.TheEconomicandSocialCommitteeapproves
theCommission'sactionaslaunchedbythepresent
Communication .
4.2.Thehighlysatisfactoryresultsobtainedby
MGSsinvariouscountriesshouldencouragetheMem­
berStatesandtheCommunitytocontinueandsuccess­
fullycompletethisspecificattempttoimprovetheway
inwhichMGSsoperate,whileatthesametimebearing
inmindthesizeofthegeneralproblemofSMEfinan­
cingandfacilitatingadiversification ofsystemsandinstrumentswithaviewtoachievingoptimalperform­
anceintheSMEsectorsconcerned .
4.3.SuchsupportbytheCommunityisallthemore
justifiedbecauseMGSsareaidinstrumentswhich
enableSMEstohelpthemselvesbetter,aprinciple
whichseemsnecessarytothesoundoperationofMGSs.
4.4.Finally,theEconomicandSocialCommittee
wouldstresstherolewhichwell-designedMGSscan
playintheeconomicandsocialspheresandconcludes
thattheremustbeintensiveconsultationwiththeCom­
mittee,whichistheveryforumwherealltheeconomic
andsocialinterestsdirectlyconcernedbyMGSsare
represented .
DoneatBrussels,29April1992.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
MichaelGEUENICH
OpinionontheproposalforaCouncilDirectiverelatingtofertilizers
(92/C169/04)
On14January1992theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle198oftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity,onthe
abovementioned proposal.
TheSectionforIndustry,Commerce,CraftsandServices,whichwasresponsibleforpreparing
theCommittee'sworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon1April1992.TheRapporteur
wasMrProumens .
Atits296thPlenarySession(meetingof29April1992),theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionunanimously .
—tothefourth:79/138/EEC,87/566/EECand89/
516/EEC.TheCommitteeapprovestheproposedDirectiveunre­
servedly.
1.Generalcomments
1.1.ThepurposeofthisDirectiveistoconsolidate
fourearlierDirectives (76/116/EEC,80/876/EEC,87/
94/EECand77/535/EEC).Therehavealsobeenamend­
mentstotheseDirectives,viz:
—tothefirst:88/183/EEC,89/284/EECand89/530/
EEC,
—tothethird:88/126/EEC,1.2.Byitsdecisionof1April1987theCommission
gaveinstructionsthatDirectiveswhichhadbeen
amendedseveraltimesshouldbeconsolidatednolater
thanaftertheir10thamendment,whichisthecasehere.
1.3.Thenewtextdoesnotchangethesubstanceof
theexistingDirectives,buthastheadvantageofbeing
easiertoconsultbothforofficialsoftheMemberStates
andforthoseworkinginthesector.

NoC169/12 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 6.7.92
2.Specificcomments
2.1.Itshouldbenotedthattheabovementioned
Directiveshaveallbeenincorporatedintonationallaw
withtheexceptionofDirective89/530/EEC,whichis
stilloutstandingintwoMemberStates.TheCom­
missionshouldpresstheseMemberStatestomakegood
thisdeficiencyasquicklyaspossible.
2.2.TheCommitteewouldtakethisopportunityto
urgefertilizermanufacturers—inadditiontotheirlegal
obligationsarisingfromtheconsolidatedDirectives
—toissueuserswithwhateverrecommendations are
necessarytoensurearationaluseofthesefertilizers,in
particularasregardstheprotectionoftheenvironment .2.3.Ifnecessaryrecommendations shouldalsobe
issuedtofarmersontheuseofnaturalfertilizers(slurry,
farmyardmanure,liquidmanure).
2.4.TheCommitteewouldalsoliketoseetheCom­
missionturnitsattentiontoothertypesoffertilizersuch
asorganicfertilizers(eg.bonemeal,leatherresidues,
guano)andmixturesofmineralandorganicfertilizers,
withaviewtoaligningexistingnationallegislation.
2.5.Inconclusion,theCommitteecallsontheCom­
mitteeforAdaptationtoTechnicalProgressprovided
forintheconsolidated Directivestoensurethatthetext
isupdatedinthelightofthecontinualnewdevelop­
mentsinfertilizertechnology .
DoneatBrussels,29April1992.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
MichaelGEUENICH