31. 8. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 232/27 
used for testing, and in the whole process of surveillance. 
This independence must always be kept under scrutiny. 
3.3.2. Bearing in mind the Commission's recognition of 
the role consumer organizations can have in the 
decision-making process of creating standards, the 
Committee accepts that they can have a part to play in 
safeguarding minimum standards for equipment and in 
demanding transparent guidelines for tests which are 
compatible in all Member States. 
3.3.3. The Committee once again repeats that safety has 
to be paid for, and it accordingly urges individual Member 
States to accept that money and manpower must be made 
available to operate an effective testing and surveillance 
system. 
3.4. Annex 4 
The Committee points out that it would be helpful if the 
Commission were to classify this Annex with appropriate 
headings. 
3.4.1. The Committee recognizes that there are different 
degrees of danger, and that it is the function of warnings and 
labels to point out to purchasers, parents and children the 
varying extent of possible risks. 
3.4.2. In some respects the present text is incomplete: for 
example installation should also take into account the 
stability, velocity and height of such equipment. 'At intervals' is not legally precise and should be replaced by 
'at intervals clearly and permanently indicated by the 
manufacturer'. 
3.4.3. Functional toys: the Committee suggests that, in 
the interest of greater clarity, the definition should come at 
the beginning of the paragraph. Moreover, it requires further 
thought on the grounds of being too imprecise: as it stands it 
would cover children's cups and saucers as well as model 
washing machines. 
3.4.4. Chemical toys 
The Committee notes that a single age restriction is given for 
chemistry sets, and points to the wide variation in complexity 
of sets on the market. It asks why age is stressed here and not 
in the context of electrical toys. 
3.4.5. Skateboards 
Since the craze for skateboards has now gone, the Committee 
suggests that the heading of this paragraph should be 
widened to include skates, children's bicycles, and any other 
mobile toys. 
It endorses the need for those who supervise children to 
encourage the use of protective clothing and footwear. 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the 
Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (J) 
(87/C 232/14) 
On 26 May 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 
198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Treaty, on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject. In the course of the work the Committee appointed Mr Broicher as 
rapporteur-general. 
At its 247th plenary session (meeting of 1 July 1987) the Committee adopted the following opinion 
unanimously: 
(») OJ No C 154, 12. 6. 1987, p. 6. 
No C 232/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 8. 87 
(b) establish a coded and integrated Common Customs 
Tariff (TARIC) by incorporating other Community 
regulations. 
4. Both systems serve the needs of industry and the 
authorities and can be brought into line with technological 
and economic developments in international trade. At the 
same time the Commission will also be provided with a tool 
for improving the coordination and implementation of 
certain policies. 
5. Since a considerable amount of work is already in 
progress on the switchover to the new system and the 
deadline set for its entry into force is 1 January 1988, the ESC 
considers the speedy adoption of the Regulation to be 
necessary. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending, 
as regards preventive withdrawals of apples and pears, Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 on the 
common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables (1) 
(87/C 232/15) 
On 26 June 1987 the Council decided to exercise its option to consult the Economic and Social 
Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Luchetti as rapporteur-general with the 
task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 247th plenary session (meeting of 1 July 1987), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the 
following opinion by a large majority, with one abstention: 
The Committee notes from the Commission's report on the working of the preventive withdrawal 
arrangements for apples and pears (COM(87) 279 final of 15 June 1987) that these arrangements have 
fulfilled their role and stabilized prices in those marketing years in which they have had to be applied. 
It therefore approves the Commission's proposal that this measure, which is in force until 30 June 
1987, should be made permanent. 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 1. The Economic and Social Committee endorses the 
proposal for the following reasons: 
2. The worldwide Harmonized Commodity Description 
and Coding System (HS) is one of the most important 
administrative reforms in international trade in recent 
years. 
3. Thus, the ESC has all the more reason for welcoming 
the fact that the Commission has taken advantage of the 
switchover to the HS to: 
(a) amalgamate the tariff and statistical nomenclatures 
based thereon in a 'Combined Nomenclature'; and 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
(J) OJ No C 175, 3. 7. 1987, p. 4.