No C 180/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 7. 87 
Opinion on the draft proposal for a Council Regulation laying down maximum permitted 
radioactivity levels for agricultural products and drinking water 
(87/C 180/10) 
On 10 February 1987 the Commission of the European Communities decided to consult the 
Economic and Social Committee, under the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy 
Community, and in particular Article 31 thereof, on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Energy, Nuclear Questions and Research, which was responsible for preparing 
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 4 May 1987. The rapporteur 
was Mr Saiu. 
At its 246th plenary session (meeting of 13 May 1987), the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously: 
1. Introduction 
1.1. Following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the 
Community was faced with the major problem of the 
radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and the absence 
of Community or international standards setting con­
tamination limits for foodstuffs that can be placed on 
the market after an accident of this nature. 
1.2. Because of the serious shortage of information, 
the Commission was unable to assess the potential risks 
from the radioactive contamination of the atmosphere 
and of foodstuffs, and was prevented from assuming 
its responsibilities under the Euratom Treaty. Above 
all it was prevented from adopting the Directives which 
the emergency situation required under Article 38 of 
the Euratom Treaty. 
1.3. The Community was able to take some emer­
gency measures to regulate agricultural imports. But 
because of disagreement among the Member States, the 
Council was unable to lay down radioactive contami­
nation limits for intra-Community trade in foodstuffs. 
1.4. The differences between the national protective 
measures taken, and the lack of coordination of these 
measures and of the information distributed between 
the Member States and in some cases even within 
Member States, cannot be explained simply by the 
differences in contamination levels. Questions have 
been asked about whether the Member States really 
want to put the need to protect the various categories 
of the population (particularly young children and preg­
nant women) above all other political, economic or 
commercial considerations. 
1.5. For these reasons, as well as to preserve the 
unity of the common market and prevent deflections of 
trade, it is of crucial importance to lay down tolerance 
limits for the radioactive contamination of foodstuffs in advance of any incident, so as to avoid controversy 
in the event of an emergency; such limits would apply 
equally to all Community and all imported products. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee is pleased that the Commission 
has submitted a proposal on 'a permanent system for 
establishing limits for the radioactive contamination of 
drinking water and agricultural products in the case of 
a nuclear accident'. Generally, the Committee approves 
the draft proposal for a Regulation, in which the Com­
mission states its intention of laying down maximum 
permitted radioactivity levels for agricultural products 
and drinking water. 
2.2. The proposal is an innovation, and the action 
taken by the Community could serve as a reference on 
which to base work at international level, notably 
within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 
2.3. However, the Committee would point out that 
at present it is being asked for an Opinion on an 
incomplete proposal, as the Commission has not yet 
formulated proposals — to be set out in an Annex to the 
Regulation — on the maximum permitted radioactivity 
levels to be adopted. 
Such a situation is detrimental to the Committee's 
ability to properly carry out the consultative duties 
assigned to it by the Euratom Treaty, and particularly 
Article 31 thereof. 
2.4. The present Opinion is therefore only an initial 
viewpoint. Only at a later date will the Committee 
take a stand on the full draft Regulation (which the 
Commission will be forwarding to it for an Opinion), 
and make its views known, in particular on the 
maximum permitted radioactivity levels which by then 
will have been adopted by the Commission. The latter 
should be submitting proposals in the course of May 
1987. 
2.5. The Committee understands the Commission's 
concern to base such proposals on the most recent 
scientific data, and achieve the widest possible inter-
8. 7. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 180/21 
national consensus, but keenly regrets the procedure 
followed and the timetable agreed with the Council. 
The Committee would stress that when laying down 
limits, it is essential to observe the following principles: 
— maximum permitted radioactivity levels must be 
tailored to the needs of particularly endangered 
groups in the population, 
— maximum permitted radioactivity levels should not 
be used to invalidate minimum legal requirements 
for irradiation. The advertising and sale of slightly 
irradiated food should not be stopped, 
— maximum permitted radioactivity levels must be 
harmonized with existing legal standards for radio­
logical protection, as there can no longer be any 
talk of short-term contamination one year after 
Chernobyl. It is inadmissible to expect the general 
public to absorb higher annual levels of contami­
nation than workers in radiation areas, 
— the establishment of maximum permitted radioac­
tivity levels means taking various health policy fac­
tors into account, which requires legal measures to 
be taken also at national level. 
2.6. The Committee notes with satisfaction the link 
which the Commission has established between the 
present proposal for a Regulation and the proposal for 
a Decision on a Community system of rapid exchange 
of information in cases of unusually high levels of 
radioactivity or of a nuclear accident, which the Com­
mittee approved on 25 February 1987 (1). 
This link is justification, if any were needed, for the 
request made by the Committee in its earlier Opinion, 
namely that in the event of a nuclear accident or when 
unusually high levels of radioactivity are recorded, the 
Member States should also be required to transmit 
information on the monitoring of radioactivity in food­
stuffs and drinking water. 
2.7. The Committee emphasizes that the setting-up 
of this intra-Community system for the rapid exchange 
of information is essential to the smooth operation of 
the 'permanent system for establishing limits for the 
radioactive contamination of drinking water and agri­
cultural products in the case of a nuclear accident' 
proposed by the Commission. 
The Committee therefore calls upon the Council to 
adopt the draft Decision submitted to it by the Com­
mission as soon as possible. 
(!) OJ No C 105, 21. 4. 1987, p. 9. 2.8. The Chernobyl nuclear accident has shown that 
because of the possible dispersal of radioactive sub­
stances in the atmosphere, it is highly probable that the 
Community will be affected by the consequences of a 
nuclear accident in a third country. It is therefore essen­
tial that the Community be informed rapidly of any 
such accident so that it can implement without delay 
any import controls on foodstuffs justified by the situ­
ation and rapidly lay down maximum permitted levels 
of radioactive contamination beyond which such 
imported foodstuffs, as well as agricultural products 
from the Community, can no longer be placed on the 
market or exported. 
2.9. The Community must therefore be informed 
directly and by right of any accidents or events on the 
territory of third countries; for this to happen the 
Community must join the Convention on the rapid 
notification of a nuclear accident drawn up under the 
aegis of the IAEA and in force since 27 October 1986. 
The Committee calls upon the Council to rapidly adopt 
the draft Decision approving the conclusion of a Con­
vention on the rapid notification of a nuclear accident 
submitted to it by the Commission in January 1987. 
2.10. The Committee feels that the draft proposal 
for a Regulation under discussion must be seen against 
the background of a nuclear accident whose conse­
quences could affect vast or scattered areas of the 
Community. Such a situation calls therefore for across-
the-board measures applicable to the whole of the Com­
munity's territory. 
The Committee considers that in the event of accidental 
and limited leaks of radioactive materials, the introduc­
tion of continuous monitoring of the radioactivity levels 
of agricultural products, particularly in the vicinity of 
nuclear power stations, would make it possible to coun­
ter rapidly the effects of such leaks and, in particular, 
seal off the area which might be affected and take 
without delay the requisite steps to inform and protect 
the public. 
2.11. The implementation of Articles 35 and 36 of 
the Euratom Treaty should therefore be reviewed and 
their scope extended. In addition, protocols on sam­
pling checks and the presentation of findings should 
be harmonized. The Commission should be given the 
means necessary to exercice its right of access to moni­
toring facilities to verify their operation and efficiency, 
as provided for by Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty. 
2.12. In its Opinion of February 1987 (see point 2.6 
above), the Committee stressed that urgent measures 
were required 'to restore and rebuild public confidence 
in the field of information' and that the introduction 
No C 180/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 7. 87 
of a Community system for the rapid exchange of 
information in cases of unusually high levels of radio­
activity or of a nuclear accident would only be a first 
step in this direction. 
The Committee asked that there be some serious think­
ing in areas such as the dissemination of information 
to the public, training and informing people on how to 
behave — especially in a post-Chernobyl-type situation 
and whenever initiatives or decisions were taken. 
2.13. The Committee repeats this request and 
emphasizes the need for the public to be fully and 
appropriately informed about the risks of consuming 
contaminated foodstuffs, the precautions to be taken 
and the behaviour to be adopted (a) in the event of 
agricultural products and drinking water being con­
taminated as a result of a nuclear accident or any other 
event, and (b) in the event of any contamination from 
chemicals resulting from such an accident or event. 
At the same time, in-depth studies should be undertaken 
into the effects of consuming contaminated foodstuffs. 
2.14. The Committee also feels that the setting-up 
of a permanent system for establishing limits for the 
radioactive contamination of drinking water and food­
stuffs in the case of a nuclear accident should be backed 
up by the formulation and implementation at Com­
munity level of an emergency plan which would include 
safety measures to be taken by the public authorities, 
producers, traders and the general public, depending 
on the degree to which agricultural product were con­
taminated. 
As soon as a decision has been taken to go ahead with 
such a plan, a massive public information campaign 
should be launched by the appropriate authorities (par­
ticularly the regional and local authorities) under the 
responsibility of the Member States in question. 
2.15. While reiterating its support in principle for 
the draft proposal for a Regulation, the Committee 
would like to make certain more specific comments and 
suggests the following: 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Committee feels that more stress should 
be laid on the link between the draft proposal for 
a Regulation and the Commission's proposals on a 
Community system for the rapid exchange of infor­
mation. Explicit reference should be made to this in the 
actual text of the Regulation. 
3.2. In the event of a nuclear accident on the territory of a third country, the Committee considers that the 
Member States should monitor the radioactivity of 
agricultural products imported from the country in 
question or from other third countries which are or 
may be affected. Imports of farm produce exceeding the 
maximum permitted levels of radioactivity laid down by 
the Commission should be banned. 
Such checks and the import bans or restrictions that 
might follow should not, however, be allowed to unduly 
jeopardize trade between the Community and third 
countries. Measures should be imposed in consultation 
with the third countries concerned taking into consider­
ation the degree of contamination in the country of 
origin as well as any import bans or restrictions imposed 
by the third countries themselves. 
3.3. The Commission's draft proposal does not solve 
the question of agricultural products imported into the 
Community after the expiry of a Regulation laying 
down maximum permitted levels of radioactivity. The 
Committee feels that there should be much hard think­
ing about this matter. 
3.4. The Committee recognizes that it is inopportune 
to lay down rigid radioactive contamination limits for 
drinking water and agricultural products beyond which 
such products can no longer be placed on the market 
or exported, because of the whole range of real emer­
gencies that could arise. It is satisfied that the procedure 
proposed will enable the Commission to immediately 
adopt a Regulation rendering applicable the maximum 
permitted levels of radioactivity set out in the basic 
Regulation and, if necessary, adapt these limits in the 
light of the real situation created by the accident or 
other event (Article 2 of the draft proposal for a Regu­
lation). 
3.5. But the Committee is concerned about the pro­
cedure proposed for adapting the limits, and wonders 
if it is appropriate for dealing with a real emergency 
(Articles 3 and 4 of the draft proposal for a Regulation). 
3.6. Such a procedure must be precise and reliable 
and enable decisions to be taken quickly. Consultation 
of the Group of Experts mentioned in Article 31 of the 
Euratom Treaty ^and of the Standing Committee for 
Foodstuffs must take place as quickly as possible so as 
not to let a situation arise where the Member States 
would be encouraged to adopt unilateral national meas­
ures. 
3.7. It would also be inappropriate in this context if 
the Commission could postpone enactment of a Regu­
lation adjusting maximum permitted radioactivity 
levels where such a Regulation was not in accordance 
with the Opinion of the Standing Committee for Food­
stuffs. The Council should, in such a case, be encour-
8. 7. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 180/23 
aged to take a decision, even if it were different, as 
rapidly as possible. 
3.8. In an absolute emergency the Commission 
should be authorized to immediately adopt a Regu­
lation adjusting maximum permitted levels of radio­
activity. The Group of Experts mentioned in Article 31 
of the Euratom Treaty would simply be consulted. 
3.9. The Committee recognizes that any decision on 
the monitoring of agricultural products, and especially 
the laying down of maximum permitted levels of radio­
activity, has major economic, social and commercial 
consequences. Any measures involving controls on pro­
duction, processing, distribution and the importing of 
agricultural products into the Community would be 
complex. New protective measures would also mean 
extra costs and would raise questions of partial or 
total compensation. The criteria of eligibility for such 
compensation would have to be studied by the Com­
mission in consultation with the Member States and 
the socio-occupational groups concerned. 
But the Committee feels that such factors should not 
take precedence over the need to protect the public 
when the Commission adopts a Regulation rendering 
applicable or adapting the maximum permitted levels 
of radioactivity. 
3.10. The Committee should be informed of any 
Regulation enacting or adapting the maximum permit­
ted radioactivity levels so that, when the time comes, 
it can express its views on the efficiency of the system 
in operation and, if necessary, recommend changes 
which it feels would improve the operation of the basic 
Regulation. 
3.11. The Committee would stress the importance 
of ensuring some degree of coordination of the measures 
Done at Brussels, 13 May 1987. to be taken by the Member States so that agricultural 
products which are not in compliance with the 
maximum permitted radioactivity levels laid down by 
the Commission are neither placed on the market nor 
exported. In this context the Commission should care­
fully examine the possibility of introducing a system 
for the labelling or marking of contaminated products 
so that the latter cannot be placed on the market 
after expiry of the Regulation laying down maximum 
permitted levels of radioactivity. 
Such coordination would not only ensure a uniform 
level of protection for the public throughout the Com­
munity but also guarantee the unity of the common 
market and prevent deflections of trade. 
3.12. The measures to be taken by the Member States 
should include provisions for feeding farm animals in 
pasture, a ban on feeding farm animals with contamin­
ated fodder or other agricultural products, and a 
requirement that highly contaminated agricultural 
products, should be destroyed or stored in the same 
way as radioactive waste, with compensation being 
paid to the producers and traders concerned, in accord­
ance with the criteria referred to in paragraph 3.9. 
3.13. Without calling into question its support in 
principle for the present draft proposal for a Regu­
lation, the Committee is of the view that the general 
and specific comments in this Opinion call for many 
and, in certain cases, substantial amendments by the 
Commission to the provisions of the draft. The drafting 
changes proposed by the Committee to this end are set 
out in the Annex to this Opinion. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
No C 180/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 7. 87 
ANNEX 
to the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down maximum permitted radioactivity 
levels for agricultural products and drinking water 
Article 1 
1. This Regulation lays down the procedure for 
determining the maximum permitted levels of radio­
active contamination of drinking water and of agricul­
tural products which may be placed on the market or 
exported following a nuclear accident or any other 
event which has led to significant contamination of 
agricultural products or drinking water. 
2. Agricultural products are products fit for human 
or animal consumption either immediately or after pro­
cessing. 
Article 2 
1. In the case of a nuclear accident or any other 
event within the meaning of Article 1 of Decision (...) (*), 
and without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 35 
and 36 of the Euratom Treaty, under which abnormally 
high radioactivity levels in agricultural products and 
drinking water are recorded, the Commission, at the 
request of a Member State or on its own initiative: 
(a) shall immediately adopt a Regulation rendering 
applicable the maximum permitted radioactivity 
levels for agricultural products and drinking water 
which may be placed on the market or exported, 
laid down in Annex I; and 
(b) shall, if necessary, adopt a Regulation adapting the 
maximum permitted levels defined in Annex I to 
the development of the situation created by the 
accident or incident, in accordance with Articles 5 
and 6. 
2. In adopting the Regulation referred to in para­
graph 1(b) the Commission shall take into account 
the basic standards laid down by Directive 80/836/ 
Euratom (2), as amended by Directive 84/467/Eura-
tom(3), in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of the 
Euratom Treaty, and in particular shall apply the prin­
ciple that all exposures shall be kept as low as reason­
ably achievable, taking account, above all, of the need 
to protect the health of different population groups, 
most notably young children and pregnant women. The maximum permitted radioactivity levels must also 
take account of the long-term radiation dose, and there­
fore be consistent with the radiation-protection stan­
dards laid down by law. 
3. The Economic and Social Committee shall be 
informed of the Regulations adopted in pursuance of 
paragraph 1. The Commission shall also forward to 
the Committee the Opinions issued in pursuance of 
Articles 5 and 6. 
Article 3 
1. In the case of a nuclear accident within the mean­
ing of the Convention 'on the rapid notification of a 
nuclear accident' in the territory of a third country, the 
Member States: 
(a) shall carry out checks on the radioactivity of agricul­
tural products imported from that third country, as 
well as from other third countries which have been 
or may have been physically affected within the 
meaning of Article 1 of the above Convention; and 
(b) shall inform the Commission of the results of such 
checks. 
2. The Commission shall lay down the period during 
which the Member States must carry out the checks 
provided for in paragraph 1 (a) and the frequency with 
which the information referred to in paragraph 1 (b) 
must be forwarded to it. 
Article 4 
1. The Commission, after considering the infor­
mation forwarded to it in accordance with Article 3(1) 
(b), and if the circumstances so require, shall implement 
the procedure provided for in Article 2 (1) (a) and (b). 
2. When implementing this procedure, the Com­
mission shall also take into account import bans or 
restrictions which might be imposed by any third 
country. 
Article 5 
(!) Decision on a Community system of rapid exchange of infor­
mation in the event of unusually high radioactivity levels or 
a nuclear accident (not yet adopted by the Council). 
(2) OJ No L 246, 17. 9. 1980, p. 1. 
(3) OJ No L 265, 5. 10. 1984, p. 4. 1. The Regulation referred to in Article 2 (1) (b) 
shall be drawn up by the Commission after it has 
obtained the opinion of the Group of Experts referred 
to in Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty (hereinafter 
called 'the Group of Experts'). 
2. When seeking the opinion of the Group of 
Experts, the Commission shall set a time limit within 
8. 7. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 180/25 
which such opinion shall be given, depending on the 
urgency of the Regulation to be adopted. No vote 
shall be taken. However, any member of the Group of 
Experts may demand that his or her views be set down 
in the minutes. 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall submit to the Standing 
Committee for Foodstuffs (hereinafter called 'the Com­
mittee') a draft of the Regulation referred to in Arti­
cle 5, together with the opinion of the Group of Experts. 
2. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft within a time limit which the Chairman shall lay 
down according to the urgency of the Regulation to be 
adopted. However, this time limit may not exceed five 
days. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority 
laid down in Article 118 (2) of the Euratom Treaty. 
The votes of the representatives of the Member States 
within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner 
set out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt the Regulation, 
which shall apply immediately. However, if the Regu­
lation is not in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee, it shall forthwith be communicated by the 
Commission to the Council. Such communication may 
not lead to the application of the Regulation being 
deferred. 
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take 
a different decision within one month. 
4. In an absolute emergency, the Commission shall 
adopt directly the Regulation adjusting the maximum 
permitted radioactivity levels defined in Annex I after 
if has obtained the opinion of the Group of Experts, in 
accordance with Article 5. 
This Regulation shall be directly applicable. However, 
this Regulation shall forthwith be communicated to the 
Council. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, 
may take a different decision within one month. 
Article 7 
1. Any Regulation adopted in pursuance of Arti­
cles 2 and 3 shall be limited in time. 
2. The duration of any Regulation adopted in pursu­
ance of Articles 2 and 3, the list of agricultural products 
which it covers, and the maximum permitted levels laid 
down in any Regulation referred to in Article 1 (1) (b) 
may be amended in accordance with the procedure 
provided for in Articles 5 and 6. Article 8 
1. In order to ensure that the maximum permitted 
levels laid down in Annex I take account of any new 
scientific data becoming available, the Commission 
shall periodically seek the opinion of the Group of 
Experts. 
2. The maximum permitted levels laid down in 
Annex I may be revised or supplemented at the request 
of a Member State or at the Commission's initiative, 
in accordance with the procedure laid down in Arti­
cle 31 of the Euratom Treaty. 
Article 9 
1. The Member States shall check compliance with 
the maximum permitted levels laid down by a Regu­
lation adopted by the Commission in pursuance of 
Article 4. 
2. When a Member State, after carrying out checks 
in pursuance of paragraph 1, notes that agricultural 
products originating in a third country do not comply 
with the maximum permitted levels, that Member State 
shall ban imports of the agricultural products in ques­
tion. 
3. Member States shall provide the Commission with 
the results of the checks carried out in pursuance of 
paragraph 1, and in particular all cases of non-com­
pliance with the maximum permitted levels. 
Article 10 
Each Member State shall provide the Commission with 
the names of the bodies responsible for carrying out 
the checks provided for in Articles 3 (1) (a) and 9 (1) 
and for forwarding the results of such checks. 
Article 11 
1. Member States shall take any measures to ensure 
that agricultural products not in compliance with the 
maximum permitted levels laid down in any Regulation 
adopted in accordance with Article 2 shall not be placed 
on the market or exported. 
For the purposes of applying this Regulation, agricul­
tural products imported from third countries shall be 
considered to be placed on the market when they are 
introduced into the customs territory of the Community 
other than under a customs transit procedure. 
2. Member States shall inform the Commission of 
the measures that they have planned in order to 
implement paragraph 1. The Commission shall list such 
measures. 
No C 180/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 7. 87 
3. On seeing such a list, and if the circumstances 
warrant it, the Commission, together with the appropri­
ate national authorities in the Member States, shall 
coordinate such measures. The Commission shall make 
any recommendations in this respect to the Member 
States. 
Article 12 
Each Member State shall provide the Commission with 
all information concerning the application of this Regu­
lation, in particular cases of non-compliance with the 
maximum permitted levels. 
The Commission shall communicate such information 
to the other Member States and shall regularly inform 
the Economic and Social Committee. 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee welcomes the fourth environ­
mental action programme and the draft Council resol­
ution on the continuation and implementation of the 
environment policy, bearing in mind: 
— the importance of protective and preventive 
environmental measures from the point of view of 
safeguarding the fundamental prerequisites of life 
and the quality of life of all of the Community's 
inhabitants, 
— the fact that environmental protection concerns all 
areas of life, specialist interests and responsibility 
and the fact that everyone both influences and ben­
efits from the environment. 
(!) OJ No C 70, 18. 3. 1987, p. 3. Article 13 
The arrangements for applying this Regulation and any 
amendments to be made to the list of minor foodstuffs 
contained in Annex II shall be adopted in accordance 
with the procedure provided for in Articles 5 and 6. 
Article 14 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day follow­
ing its publication in the Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States. 
In future the Community should determine standards 
for a progressive environmental policy; the Member 
States should be called upon to play their part in achiev­
ing this aim. 
1.2. The Committee supports the political objectives 
of the programme, in particular the intention to use the 
facilities and powers made available under the Single 
European Act and to take account, from 1992, of the 
common internal market in the formulation of environ­
mental policy. 
The Committee does, however, regret the failure of 
the programme to include a clear appraisal of the 
implementation of the earlier action programmes on 
the environment, in particular the third Community 
action programme. 
1.3. The projected further development and upward 
alignment of substantive European environmental law 
is welcomed. The Committee sees this as a step towards 
strengthening the principle of taking preventive action, 
a principle which : Opinion on the Council resolution on the continuation and implementation of a European 
Community policy and action programme on the environment (1987 to 1992) (*) 
(87/C 180/11) 
On 28 October 1986 the Council, acting under Article 198 of the EEC Treaty, asked the 
Economic and Social Committee for an Opinion on the following abovementioned draft 
document. 
The Committee instructed its Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to prepare its work on the matter. The rapporteur was Mr. Boisseree. The 
Section adopted its Opinion on 23 April 1987. 
The Committee notes that the Council of Ministers at its meeting of 19/20 March 1987 
expressed its intention to take a further decision on the individual proposals contained in 
the fourth action programme on the environment once it has received the Opinions of the 
European Parliament and the Committee and the Commission's proposals. In view of this 
decision the Committee expects the following Opinion to have an impact on the Council of 
Ministers' discussion. 
The Committee adopted the following Opinion at its 246th plenary session (meeting of 
13 May 1987) by 81 votes to 42, with 17 abstentions: