NoC 150/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 87 
3. The need to supply legal information, have 
translations done and settle disputes about the interpreting or 
implementation of the Member State of exit's laws is likely to 
increase customs offices' workloads and costs out of all 
proportion to the benefits to be gained. 
4. Even the people passing through customs are bound to 
suffer if they have to discuss the application of their own 
Member State's laws with the customs officials of the office of 
entry and in so doing are obliged more often than not to use a 
foreign language. 
Done at Brussels, 14 April 1987. 
1. Preliminary comment 
1.1. The Committee has had much difficulty in 
interpreting the Commission proposal in the form in which it 
has been presented. The practice of referring time and time 
again to existing regulations without at the same time 
reproducing the Articles in question makes it all but 
impossible to properly evaluate the proposed amendments 
and their impact on the present situation. 
H OJ NoC 24, 31.1.1987, p.12. 5. Accordingly, the Committee thinks that it will be 
possible to transfer only specified export formalities and 
controls, where the office of entry is in a position to reach 
decisions on its own without knowing the laws of the 
Member State of exit. The Committee recommends that the 
proposal be amended along these lines. Another alternative 
solution might be to require Member States, wherever 
possible, to house the offices of exit and entry under one roof 
and to man them jointly. This would be a real help for the 
people passing through customs. Useful examples of both 
solutions are already to be found at a number of border 
crossings between Member States. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
1.2. The Committee proposes that the competent 
authorities should revise their method to satisfy the need for 
greater clarity and simplicity. As Community legislation 
expands, so clarity and simplicity become more and more 
vital. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee has based its examination of the 
Commission proposal on the ESC opinion (adopted on 17 
September 1986) on the proposal for a Council Directive on Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending for the third time Directive 75/726/EEC 
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning fruit juices and certain similar 
products (*) 
[(87/C 150/10)] 
On 15 January 1987, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 18 March 1987 in the light of the oral report by Mr Quevedo 
Rojo. 
At its 245th plenary session held on 14 April 1987 the Economic and Social Committee unanimously 
adopted the following opinion: 
The Committee approves the Commission proposal subject to the following comments: 
9. 6. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/17 
the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
concerning food additives authorized for use in foodstuffs 
intended for human consumption^1) 
2.2. Having endorsed the declaration on the powers of 
implementation of the Commission adopted by the 
Conference of the Governments of the Member States on the 
occasion of the signing of the Single European Act, the 
Commission is now proposing to introduce into existing 
Community legislation on fruit juices and similar products 
the new decision-making process that gives a 'predominant' 
place to the Advisory Committee procedure. 
2.2.1. The Committee, whilst recognizing that the 
Commission's decision-making procedure needs to be rapid 
and efficient, recommends that the new procedure should not 
preclude consultation of the Economic and Social Committee 
as provided for under the first paragraph of Article 100 A of 
the Treaty. 
2.2.2. The Committee would draw the attention of the 
Commission to the importance of forging ahead, within the 
framework of Community legislation on foodstuffs, with 
harmonization and the introduction of new and more 
effective rules, methods and criteria for analyses and 
sampling in order constantly to improve product control. 
The Committee believes that this is one of the preconditions 
for securing the necessary protection of the consumer, the 
transparency of the market and the free, fair and orderly 
movement of goods. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. Fifth recital 
The Committee considers that this 'recital' should be since it 
does not correspond with the contents of the proposed 
Directive. 
3.2. Article 1 (2) 
3.2.1. The Committee considers that once the 
Commission provides for the possibility of mixing fruit juices 
and fruit puree, the mixture must be called '. . . and . . . 
juice'. This is to avoid unnecessary confusion in the minds of 
consumers. 
Done at Brussels, 14 April 1987. 3.3. Article 1(3) and (11) 
(Articles 7 (2) (c) and 16 (2) (f) of Directive 75/726/EEC) 
3.3.1. The Committee notes the reasons which have led 
the Commission to propose that honey should only be 
mentioned among the list of ingredients if it is a total and not 
partial replacement for sugars. 
3.3.2. The Committee would nevertheless point out that 
should technological progress make it possible to determine, 
through product analysis, the quantity and nature of the 
deacidifying agents used, the label should indicate the 
percentages of honey and sugars used. 
3.4. Article 1 (11) 
3.4.1. The Committee recognizes that in the case of fruit 
juices and similar products it is often necessary to add 
additives to satisfy technological requirements and consumer 
habits. 
3.4.2. The Committee would recommend that, in such 
cases, natural additives should be used wherever possible. 
3.5. Article 1 (12) 
3.5.1. The Committee recommends that the Annex to 
Directive 75/726/EEC should not be regarded as a definitive 
list but as a list open to new types of fruits whose nectars 
might appear on the European market. 
3.5.2. The Committee, whilst recognizing that grape 
juices and musts are subject to two different regulations, calls 
on the Commission to make Community legislation in this 
area clearer and more balanced. 
4. Article 2 
4.1. The Committee recommends that sufficient time 
(two years for production and four years for disposal of 
stocks) be allowed, or, if necessary, that appropriate 
conditions be provided to ease the transition to the new 
rules. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
(>) OJ No C 328, 22. 12. 1986, p. 5.