No C 56/28 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 7. 3. 77 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Decision  setting  up a Community  action  for  the 
eradication  of brucellosis,  tuberculosis  and  leukosis  in bovines 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 252  of 26 October  1976,  page  4. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19  October  1976,  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 
143rd  iplenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 24 and  25 November  1976. 
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 
Articfle  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on  19 
October  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  iby its Bureau  on 
26 October  1976,  instructing  the  Section  for  Agri-
culture  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to its earlier  work  on the  milk  and 
milk  products  sector,  and  in particular  its opinion  of 
30 September  1976  on the  action  programme  (1977  to 
1980)  for  the  progressive  achievement  of balance  in 
the milk  market,  and  its opinion  of 30 September 
1976  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  intro-
ducing  a premium  system  for  the  non-marketing  of 
milk  and  milk  products  and  for  the  conversion  of 
dairy  cow  herds  ('), 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the  rap-
porteur,  Mr.  Bourel, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 18 November  1976, 
0 OJ  No C 285,  2. 12. 1976. Having  regard  to the  discussion  at its 143rd  plenary 
session  held  on 24 and  25 November  1976  (meeting 
of 24 November), 
HAS  UNANIMOUSLY  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING 
OPINION: 
1. The  Committee  notes  that  the  present  proposal 
forms  part  oif  the  Community's  measures  in the 
veterinary  field.  Its aim  is to improve  the  health  of 
cattle,  with  a view  to making  stock-rearing  more 
profitable  and  protecting  man  from  certain  diseases 
that can  be transmitted  to him  by cattle.  The  Com-
mittee  considers  that  this  proposal  should  allow  pro-
gress  to be made  towards  eliminating  certain  dero-
gations  that  are  currently  impeding  intra-Community 
trade.  The  Committe  wonders,  however,  whether  the 
proposal  should  not  also  have  covered  certain  other 
epizootic  diseases,  such  as paratuberculosis.  It should 
also not  be overlooked  that  foot-and-mouth  diisease 
in all its aspects  still  forms  a considerable  obstacle 
to trade  both  within  the  Community  and  with  the 
rest of the  world. 
2. The  Committee  approves  this  Commission  initiat-
ive, especially  since  it has  noted  that  there  are  still  a 
relatively  large  number  of  animals  infected  with 
brucellosis,  tuberculosis,  leukosis  and  also  paratuber-
culosis,  particularly  in certain  Member  States,  despite 
the veterinary  action  taken  at national  level. 
7. 3. 77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 56/29 
3. The  Committee  agrees  with  the proposed  action 
being  classed  as 'common  measures'  within  the 
meaning  of Regulation  (BBC)  No 729/70,  since  this 
is a move  to coordinate  the various  measures  taken 
at national  level.  As a result  the whole  operation  is 
eligible  for funds  from  the EAGGF. 
4. The  Committee  would  point  out  that  the  aids 
provided  for  under  this  Community  action  can  be 
combined  with  aids  under  the proposal  for a Council 
Regulation  introducing  a premium  system  for  the 
non-marketing  olf milk  and  milk  products  and  for the 
conversion  of dairy  cow  herds.  It is probably  because 
of this  interrelationship  between  the  two  proposals 
that the Commission  decided  to submit  the present 
proposal  under  its action  programme  for achieving 
balance  in the milk  sector.  The  'Committee  considers, 
however,  that  it should  be made  clearer  ihow  these 
two kinds  of aid can be combined. 
5. The  Committee  notes  that  the  duration  of this 
Community  action  is three  years;  it underlines  the 
fact that  any  delays  in implementation  will  only aggravate  the  difficulties  to be solved.  It should 
therefore  be ensured  that  the competent  authorities 
act as rapidly  as possible  in making  an exact  in-
ventory  of diseased  animals.  The  Committee  would 
point  out,  however,  that  the flow  of meat  as a result 
of the  ensuing  slaughterings  will  call  for  tigher 
supervision  otf the beef  and  veal  market.  The  Com-
mittee  would  stress  the importance  it attaches  to the 
effects  this Community  action  will  have  on trade  in 
animals. 
6. Finally,  the  Committee  asks  that  the  Advisory 
Committee  on Veterinary  Matters  be associated  with 
this Community  action. 
Done  at Brussels,  24 November  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  concerning  a charge  on certain  oils 
and fats 
Tihe text  referred  to the Committee  'has not yet been  published  in the Official  Journal 
of the European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19  October  1976,  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 
143rd  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 24 and 25 November  1976. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: