No C 285/14 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 2.12.  76 
Protection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and 
Consumer  Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a 
report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Protection  of the Environment,  Public  Health  and 
Consumer  Affairs  at its  meeting  held  on  16 
September  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mrs  Evans, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 141st  plenary 
session  held  on 29 and  30 September  1976  (meeting 
of 29 September  1976), HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote,  and  7 abstentions: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal  for a Council 
Regulation. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 September  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  introducing  a premium  system  for 
the non-marketing  of milk  and  milk  products  and  for the conversion  of dairy  cow  herds 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has not been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 23 July  1976,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43 and  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 
141st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 September  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  Treaty  establishing  the  Euro-
pean  Economic  Community,  and  in  particular 
Articles  43 and  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 23 July  1976  for an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Chairman 
on 23  July  1976,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Agriculture  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr de Cafarelli, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 24 September  1976, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 141st  plenary 
session  held  on 29 and  30 September  1976  (meeting 
of 30 September  1976), 
2.12.  76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 285/15 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  no votes  against  and  8 abstentions: 
1.1. The  Committee  would  draw  attention  to the 
effort  the  Commission  has  made  to provide  greater 
incentives  for  a reduction  in milk  output  and  to 
introduce  these  incentives  with  great  speed.  In 
general,  the  Committee  considers  that  this  proposal 
may produce  positive  results.  Some  of the  measures 
advocated  — such  as the provision  that  dairy  farmers 
who  switch  to the production  of meat  in general  (and 
not just  beef  and  veal)  should  be eligible  for  the 
conversion  premium  — are  in line  with  previous 
Committee  recommendations. 
1.2. The  Committee  points  out  that  small  dairy 
farmers  are likely  to be penalized  in so far as they  do 
not reach  the  50  000  litres  per  year  threshold 
stipulated  by  the  Commission  for  the  conversion 
premium. 
1.3. This  having  been  said,  the Committee  gives  its 
general  approval  to  the  Commission's  proposal, 
subject  to the comments  set out  below. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. The  Committee  thinks  that,  in view  of the 
extraordinary  situation  brought  about  by  the 
drought,  a large  number  of farmers  are  going  to apply  for  these  premiums.  In some  regions  there 
might  be a flood  of applications. 
If this  should  happen,  dairy  product  manufacturers  in 
these  regions  would  be  put  in a very  difficult 
position,  no matter  how  efficient  they  are,  and  might 
even  be forced  to stop  production. 
Because  of this  fact  and  because  dairies  located  in 
other  regions  which  have  invested  heavily  in recent 
years  will  run  into  difficulties  if production  falls,  the 
Committee  would  urge  — with  a view  to making  the 
proposal  fully  effective  —  that  additional 
arrangements  be  made  to include  dairies  in the 
Community's  general  scheme. 
2.2. The  Committee  would  also  ask  that  dairy 
farmers  who,  as the  Commission  desires,  switch  to 
another  type  of farming,  be given  the assurance  by the 
Community  that  a  coherent  and  consistent 
medium-term  policy  will  be pursued  in the  meat 
sector. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 September  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  action  programme  (1977  to 1980)  for  the  progressive  achievement  of 
balance  in the milk  market 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  not  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 23 July  1976,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  programme  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43 and  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 
141st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 September  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: