31. 12. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 348/19 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the consolidation of precautionary 
measures concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 269 of 21 October 1981, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 9 October 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to"the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198 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 
192nd plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 November 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 9 October 1981 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on 
the consolidation of precautionary measures 
concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the 
environment, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Economic 
and Social Committee at its 192nd plenary session 
held on 25 and 26 November 1981, appointing Mr P. 
Hatry Rapporteur-General with responsibility for 
drafting the opinion, 
Having regard to the Committee's opinion on the 
proposal for a Council Decision concerning 
chlorofluorocarbons in the environment, which was 
adopted at its 173rd plenary session held on 
21 November 1979 (»), 
Having regard to the oral report made by Mr P. 
Hatry, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 192nd plenary 
session, held on 25 and 26 November 1981 (meeting 
of 25 November), 
(i) OJ No C 72, 24. 3. 1980. by 56 votes to 3, with 23 abstentions: 
1. The Committee is pleased to have been consulted 
on this matter since this enables it to keep a 
permanent watch on the action taken on its previous 
opinions and reinforces its role as a general 
consultative body for the Community institutions. 
2. The Committee also notes with satisfaction that 
the new proposal for a Council Decision reflects the 
continuity of approach that is necessary here on 
account of the uncertainty of the fundamental 
scientific data and the importance of continuously 
adapting Decisions to take account of the latest 
scientific and technical knowledge. 
3. The Committee notes that the two com­
munications from the Commission to the Council, 
i.e. on chlorofluorocarbons in the environment (16 
June 1980) and on chlorofluorocarbons in the 
environment: information and basis for evaluation 
for the pursuit of Community policy (26 May 1981), 
set out the position. 
The Committee endorses the conclusions reached in 
the former of these two communications, which can 
be summarized as follows: 
No C 348/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12.81 
(a) much more is known about the photochemical 
theory of ozone in the stratosphere than ten 
years ago; 
(b) there are nonetheless still areas of uncertainty; 
(c) models have helped to improve knowledge of 
the stratosphere; 
(d) because they are simplifications, these models 
cannot fully describe the behaviour of the 
atmosphere and its minor constituents; 
(e) more sophisticated models covering the 
chemical, thermal and dynamic aspects of 
atmospheric processes should be devised in the 
coming years; 
(f) this task cannot be completed in less than five 
years, but continuous efforts should be made; 
(g) it is therefore particularly important to keep the 
ozone under constant observation and 
surveillance; 
(h) there is at present nothing to indicate that CFCs 
have actually affected the ozone layer; 
(i) it is therefore necessary to develop the means of 
observation — both satellite measurements, 
which provide a large number of observations, 
and ground-based measurements, which are 
easier to calibrate; 
(j) the study of the balances of minor constituents 
should be continued in order to determine the 
sources, both natural and artificial, of the 
components of the atmosphere; 
(k) it is essential to study simultaneously all 
anthropogenic influences on atmospheric 
ozone. 
4. The Committee also notes the considerable 
progress made in the area of quantitative 
information, thanks to the improvement in the 
statistics on the subjects in question, as witness in 
particular the second communication referred to 
above and especially Annex 2 thereto. 
5. Without wishing in any way to repeat the basic 
points made in its opinion of 21 November 1979, the Committee would observe that it called for a periodic 
review of the Regulations in the light of the latest 
scientific and technical knowledge. It is gratified that 
the Commission is following precisely this proposal 
and observing the intervals suggested. 
6. The Committee notes that the new proposal for a 
Decision has first of all the advantages of giving a 
precise definition of CFC 11 and CFC 12 production 
capacity. This removes all doubt as to this definition 
and the concept of 'capacity'. 
7. The Committee also notes with satisfaction that 
the new proposal for a Decision lays down as new 
mandatory norm the overall reduction in the use of 
CFC 11 and CFC 12 for the filling of aerosol cans 
achieved by the end of 1981. This reduction will be 
appreciably greater than the 30 % required under the 
1980 Decision. 
8. The Committee also approves of any measures 
that should be necessary in order to accelerate the 
process of reducing the use of chlorofluorocarbons in 
aerosol cans, on the basis of the examination to be 
made in the second half of 1983 (such measures to be 
implemented not later than 30 June 1984). 
9. As regards the use of chlorofluorocarbons for 
purposes other than as aerosol propellants, the 
Committee also notes that in the areas where up to 
now technical and economic measures to 
progressively reduce losses of chlorofluorocarbons 
have seemed considerably more difficult to 
implement, namely the foam plastics, refrigerants 
and solvents sectors, the proposal for a Decision 
seeks to stimulate cooperation between the Member 
States with a view to the introduction of the most 
suitable techniques for reducing the impact of such 
losses. 
10. In conclusion, the Committee approves the 
proposal for a Council Decision as a whole and asks 
to be consulted as part of the procedure that the 
Council and the Commission are to apply in 1983 
and 1984. 
Done at Brussels, 25 November 1981. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE