3. 5. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 112/5 
2.3. Annex A 
(a) In the German version the words 'Katarrhalfieber 
der Schafe' should be replaced by 
'Blauzungenkrankheit'. The reason for this proposal 
is that the disease occurs in cattle as well as sheep and 
Done at Brussels, 24 February 1982. 
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 Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 5 October 1981 for an 
opinion on the preliminary draft opinion of the Section 
for Agriculture on the proposal for a Council Directive on 
health problems relating to residues of antibiotics in fresh 
meat of Community origin, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 27 
October 1981 instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
prepare an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Section for 
Agriculture at its 232nd meeting held on 4 and 5 February 
1982 (meeting of 4 February), 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Jaschick, 
Having regard to its earlier work on the matter, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 195th plenary 
session held on 24 and 25 February 1982 (meeting of 
25 February), the term proposed accords with current veterinary 
usage. 
(b) In the German version the words 'Blaschenausschlag 
des Schweines' should be replaced by the words 
'vesikulare Schweinekrankheit'. This would bring 
the present draft Directive into line with the wording 
of Directive 80/1098/EEC. 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
with 78 votes in favour and two abstentions: 
1. General comments 
1.1. Although it would, in the Committee's view, have 
been better to have dealt with all matters relating to 
residues in a comprehensive Directive, the Committee 
nonetheless welcomes the draft Directive in view of the 
urgent nature of the problems existing in this field. It 
does, however, wish to make the comments set out 
below. The Committee appreciates the Commission's 
endeavour to remove outstanding barriers to trade by 
means of this draft Directive. 
1.2. In order that it should apply to as many 
antimicrobial substances as possible, the draft Directive 
should refer more specifically to the antibiotics and the 
antimicrobial chemotherapeutants concerned. 
1.3. In the Committee's view, binding, uniform 
methods of analysis for detecting the presence of 
antimicrobial substances should be laid down. Only 
when such methods of analysis have been made known 
will it be possible to comment on the effectiveness of the 
prescribed rules and the costs of the checks to be carried 
out. The Commission is urgently requested to submit a The Chairman of 
the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on health problems relating to residues of 
antibiotics in fresh meat of Community origin 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 251 of 1 October 1981, page 7. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 5 October 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 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 195th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 February 1982. 
No C 112/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 5. 82 
proposal along these lines as soon as possible. In the 
Committee's view a uniform method of analysis must be 
available before the Directive comes into effect. 
1.4. From a general point of view, the Committee 
would express its concern over the fact that the 
implementation of the proposed Directive will bring 
about an increase in the tendency for preference to be 
given to the use of substances for which no totally reliable 
methods of analysis are yet available. From this point of 
view the effect of the draft Directive may be regarded as 
relatively modest. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 
The term 'absence of residues' must be linked to the 
universally binding method of analysis which will have to 
be laid down and the reliable margin of tolerance which 
will have to be defined in this connection. 
The Committee recognizes that it is not possible to 
achieve an absolute absence of residues in the strict 
scientific sense. 
2.2. Article 2 
Antimicrobial chemotherapeutants should be explicitly 
mentioned in indent (a). 
2.3. Article 4 (2) (2) 
The Committee proposes that the words 'the herd or' be 
deleted. 
2.4. Article 4 (2) (3) 
There should be a ban on the slaughtering of animals for 
human consumption until such time as it may be 
assumed, on the basis of the shortest withdrawal periods 
Done at Brussels, 25 February 1982. for the veterinary medicinal products concerned, that the 
corresponding residues are no longer present. 
2.5. Article 4 (2) (4) 
The Committee proposes that the words 'or herd' be 
deleted. 
2.6. Article 5 (1) 
The Committee would point out that under certain 
circumstances the carcase of a slaughtered animal 
could be kept out of circulation for a period of up to a 
week which would bring about a loss of quality in the 
meat and financial losses for the party authorized to 
dispose of the carcase. The result of the examination 
should be communicated within the shortest possible time 
limit which should not normally exceed three or four 
working days. 
2.7. Article 7, first sentence 
The Committee poses the question as to whether the 
analysis of samples to detect the presence of residues 
of antibiotics and chemotherapeutants should not be 
regarded as a public health protection measure, the cost 
thus being borne by the public authorities. 
2.8. Article 7, second sentence 
The Committee expressly approves the provision set out 
in this sentence; it would also like to be kept informed of 
the costs which arise in this context. 
2.9. Text samples (Appendix 1) 
In the light of scientific findings and in accordance with 
the rules already being applied in several Member States, 
the Committee urges the Commission to consider the 
possibility of reducing the test samples laid down in 
Appendix 1, provided that this does not impede the 
achievement of the objectives of the Directive. 
The Chairman of 
the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE 
ANNEX 
to the opinon of the Economic and Social Committee 
REJECTED AMENDMENT 
The following amendment, tabled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, was rejected in the course of 
the Committee's debate: 
Point 2.9 
This point should be amended to read as follows: 
'In the light of scientific findings and in accordance with the rules already being applied in several 
Member States, the Committee advocates a reduction in the test samples laid down in Appendix 1, 
provided that this does not impede the achievement of the objectives of the Directive.' 
Voting 
For: 15; against: 60; abstentions: 9.