26. 4. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 105/41 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 64/433/EEC on health 
problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat 
(Doc. COM(78) 410 final) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 229 of 27 September 1978, page 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 25 September 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 43 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 tis 163 rd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 29 and 30 November 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 
100 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 25 September 1978 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 18 
October 1978 instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
draw up an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Agriculture at its meeting held on 9 November 1978, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Hovgaard Jakobsen, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 163rd plenary 
session held on 29 and 30 November 1978 (meeting of 
29 November), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee endorses the proposal subject to the 
following comments. 
1. Article 3 (3) of Directive 64/433/EEC bans 
intra-Community trade in fresh meat from boars and 
cryptorchid pigs. The Committee notes: 
— that the ban applies to all non-castrated male pigs 
irrespective of whether they are to be used for 
breeding or for meat production; 
— that no reference is made to hermaphrodite pigs. 
2. The Committee notes that the proposed 
amendments will have the following effects: 
— they will authorize the marketing of fresh meat from 
boars used for meat production, 
— the marketing of fresh meat of cryptorchid and 
hermaphrodite pigs will be banned, 
— they will authorize the marketing of meat from boars 
used for breeding, provided that they have been 
castrated at least six weeks before slaughter. 
3. The Committee notes that the present wording may 
lead to difficulties in determining whether or not a boar 
has been intended or used for breeding. 
The Committee feels furthermore that the meat of 
non-castrated male pigs which are above a certain weight 
to be determined and which are intended for meat 
production, should initially be marketed only if it is 
clearly identified as such. Moreover, until objective 
methods for measuring smell and taste become available, 
such meat should perhaps be used for processing only. 
4. The Committee endorses the proposed ban on the 
marketing of meat from hermaphrodite pigs; the 
problems here are similar to those associated with 
cryptorchid pigs. 
No C 105/42 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 4. 79 
It also endorses the proposal to authorize the marketing 
of meat from boars used for breeding provided they have 
been castrated at least six weeks before slaughter. 
5. The Committee would, however, point out that it is 
now technically feasible to use equipment to measure 
smell and taste. This possibility should therefore be taken 
into consideration now and the development of such 
equipment and methods should be encouraged as a 
matter of priority. Such methods would make for a 
Done at Brussels, 29 November 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 28 May 1978 for an opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
18 October 1978 instructing the Section for Energy and 
Nuclear Question to draw up an opinion and a report on 
the matter, more satisfactory solution to the problems involved, 
particularly as far as consumers are concerned. 
6. Finally the Committee would point out in 
connection with the present proposal, that Directive 
77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 concerning health 
problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat 
products comes into force on 1 January 1979. Directive 
77/99/EEC stipulates inter alia that only fresh meat 
complying with the Directive on fresh meat may be used 
in meat products. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Energy and Nuclear Questions at its 43 rd meeting held 
on 10 November 1978, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 163rd plenary 
session held on 29 and 30 November 1978 (meeting of 
29 November), 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Friedrichs, 
Whereas, in its study of 28 April 1977, the Committee 
called for the adoption of a Community nuclear safety 
code to cover all fields of nuclear energy research and Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a programme concerning the 
decommissioning of nuclear power plants 
(Doc. COM(78) 167 final) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 146 of 21 June 1978, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 8 May 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Atomic Energy Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 163rd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 29 and 30 November 1978.