31. 7. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 194/19 
2.7. The following sentence should be added to point 
1.3.5 of Annex 1: 
'Whenever an appliance has a level of efficiency 
above the statutory minimum threshold, determined 
in accordance with the relevant standard (including 
the test method) and published in the Official 
journal of the European Communities, this shall be 
declared by the manufacturer.' 
2.8. The Commission should examine whether there 
is a case for amending point 1.3.6.3 of Annex 1 of the 
Directive so that it now reads as follows (new word 
underlined, deletions in brackets): 
'The surface temperatures of external parts of an 
appliance intended for domestic use, with the excep­
tion of surfaces or parts associated with the function 
of transmitting heat, shall under operating con­
ditions not (exceed values which) present a danger 
to the user and in particular to children (for whom 
an appropriate contact time has to be taken into 
account).' 
Done at Brussels, 31 May 1989. 
The Committee supports the general thrust of the pro­
posal subject to certain reservations. 
1. General comments 
1.1. The proposal aims at the eventual elimination 
of rabies from the Community. The proposal consists 
of two separate entities: 
(!) OJ No C 85, 6. 4. 1989. 2.9. Add the following to point 1.3.1 of Annex 2 after 
the words 'the essential requirements of the Directive': 
'The approval of materials and/or parts, attested 
beforehand by a certificate from a notified body, 
shall have binding effect.' 
2.10. It should be made clear in the Italian version 
that the organismo autorizzato referred to in point 2.2 
of Annex 2 is the same as the organismo notificato 
(does not apply to the English version which uses the 
term 'notified body'). 
2.11. In the view of the Committee the Commission 
must provide suitable guarantees to the effect that gas 
appliances imported from non-member countries may 
only be put on the market if they meet the safety 
standards laid down in this Directive. 
a) the facilitation of the movement of dogs and cats 
as a social measure; 
b) pilot schemes for the oral vaccination of foxes as 
an eradication measure. 
It is necessary to eliminate infection in foxes as they 
are the reservoir for rabies infection to other species in 
the Community. The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation instituting a certificate for dogs and cats 
on visits of less than 1 year in the Member States and introducing Community measures to 
set up pilot projects for the control and eradication of rabies (*) 
(89/C 194/08) 
On 1 January 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Com­
mittee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 19 April 1989. The rapporteur was Mr 
Storie-Pugh. 
At its 266th plenary session (meeting of 31 May 1989), the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously. 
No C 194/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 31.7.89 
1.2. In regard to eradication there is little doubt that 
scientific knowledge has reached a stage when this is 
theoretically feasible. The Committee would however 
draw attention to certain points in regard to translating 
this into a practical proposition. 
1.3. Finance 
The pilot schemes to be drawn up by Member States 
must be scientifically based on known prophylactic 
measures and upon those which are at an advanced, 
and recognizably effective, stage of development. Unless 
there is whole hearted financial support by the Member 
States, little progress will be made. 
The Committee supports the proposed Community 
financial aid. 
1.4. Research 
Unforeseen problems can arise especially with the vac­
cine and its administration. It is of utmost importance 
therefore that research in the rabies field should con­
tinue to be supported, especially new developments in 
immunology and other methods of control. 
1.5. Quarantine 
Current quarantine protection measures are to be main­
tained for a time. It should be made clear that this time 
should be until the Community is rabies-free. This 
means vaccinating wildlife until the disease appears to 
have been eradicated, then stopping vaccination and 
still getting no outbreak of rabies. 
1.6. Bufferzones 
A point of particular significance relates to the control 
of disease in the border areas between the Community 
and other countries. Although schemes to control and 
eradicate rabies in foxes in countries bordering the 
Done at Brussels, 31 May 1989. Community are in existence, the risk to the Community 
is present because of the propensity of rabid foxes to 
travel considerable distances. If steps are not taken to 
combat the disease on, especially, the Community's 
Eastern borders, reinfection will occur after eradication. 
The Committee suggests that vaccination campaigns be 
conducted at the same time on both sides of the borders 
to a depth of perhaps 100 km. To this end meeting, 
seminars or conferences should be arranged with 
experts from the bordering countries. 
1.7. Time scale 
One cannot legislate to produce a meaningful time scale 
for the control of biological phenomena in which there 
are still unknown factors. A too rigid attempt to impose 
a short time scale for this disease commands little 
support and is not realistic. 
2. Specific comments 
Annex 1 
Although the inclusion of a health certificate (4) is not 
really relevant, the Committee supports its inclusion as 
it will facilitate movement between certain Member 
States. 
2.1. After male/female add 'neuter'. 
2.2. Delete 'symptoms' and replace by 'clinical signs'. 
2.3. Veterinarians are of both sexes. The certificate 
should be accordingly amended where appropriate to 
take account of linguistic differences. 
The guidance notes (page 11, paragraph 2) are rather 
confusing. Perhaps if paragraph 2 was expressed in 
tabular form it would be clearer. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE