No C 168/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 7. 90 
2.3. Given that there are possible alternatives to these 
substances, the Committee endorses (subject to the 
comments in the next section) both: 
(a) the ban on the marketing and use of: 
— monomethyl dichloro diphenyl methane (Ugilec 
121/Ugilec C 21), 
— monomethyl dibromo diphenyl methane (DBBT), 
— preparations containing these substances; and 
(b) the restrictions on the marketing and use of monome­
thyl tetrachloro diphenyl methane (Ugilec 141) and 
preparations containing this substance, the ultimate aim 
being a total ban within specified time limits. This is 
also in keeping with the latest developments in mining, 
where hydraulic equipment is systematically being 
replaced by electro-mechanical equipment. Directive as it constitutes such a serious environmental 
hazard. 
3.2. With regard to the exemptions provided for in the 
case of plant and machinery already in use, the Committee 
would suggest that the period of depreciation rather than 
the 'life-time' be used as the criterion for taking them out of 
service. Member States should cooperate with the Com­
munity in drawing up appropriate disposal schemes. 
3.3. As regards the disposal of the actual substances, the 
Committee feels that in view of their chemical properties 
they should be included in the draft Directive on the 
disposal of PCBs and PCTs (l). The Committee would refer 
to its opinion on the latter, and would in particular reiterate 
its concern over the Community's present capacity for 
disposing of these substances. 
Done at Brussels, 25 April 1990. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Committee feels that it is reasonable to lay 
down a transitional period for monomethyl tetrachloro 
diphenyl methane (Ugilec 141), but would recommend 
reducing it to one year from the date of adoption of the The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
(!) OJ No C 319, 12. 12. 1988. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 87/404/EEC on the 
harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to simple pressure vessels (!) 
(90/C 168/02) 
On 15 January 1990, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100a of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 4 April 1990. Mr Flum was rapporteur. 
At its 276th plenary session (meeting of 25 April 1990) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion: 
The Committee approves the proposal for a Directive, 
subject to the following observations: 
1. The 'pressure vessels' Directive of 25 June 1987 
represents the first application of the new approach to 
technical harmonization. Consequently, in delivering its 
opinion (2) on the corresponding proposal (rapporteur: 
Mr Flum) the Committee drew attention to the risk of 
discrimination based on standards since, whilst some 
Member States relied on voluntary standards, others 
(J) OJ No C 13, 19. 1. 1990, p. 7. 
(2) OJ No C 328, 22. 12. 1986. had introduced mandatory technical requirements. The 
absence of a clear legal classification of the rules in 
question could be expected to create difficulties for 
certain Member States which would find themselves in a 
vacuum if the Directive entered into force before the 
corresponding European standards were adopted. 
The Economic and Social Committee therefore pro­
posed that the transitional period be dispensed with and 
called on the Commission to make every effort to ensure 
the early establishment of European standards and to 
submit a timetable drawn up in conjunction with the 
10. 7. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 168/3 
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and 
the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standar­
dization (Cenelec) so that the parties concerned would 
know when the European standards applied. 
2. In view of the failure of CEN to carry out its 
standardization contract on time, that is by 1 January 
1990, the Commission has proposed the inclusion of a 
transitional provision in the Directive which would 
allow the Member States to permit, until 1 July 1992, 
the placing on the market and/or in service of vessels 
conforming to the regulations in force in their territories 
before the date of application of the Directive. 
3. The Committee finds this proposal all the more 
regrettable in that the special health and safety risks to 
which pressure-vessel operatives and users are exposed 
continue to create an urgent need for compliance with 
Community safety deadlines. Consequently, if the date 
mentioned in Article 1 of the proposed amendment 
cannot be brought forward, the Commission must 
1. The Committee notes that the tabled proposal is one 
which has to be treated as a matter of urgency owing to the 
imbalance that has come about in the industry concerned as 
a result of the exclusion of... appliances actuated by fluids 
(such as oil and hydraulic lifts) ...' (2). Accordingly, the 
Committee thinks it right that Council Directive 84/529/ 
EEC as updated in Commission Directive 86/312/EEC (3) 
should be amended as is proposed in the current draft 
(!) OJ No C 17, 24. 1. 1990, p. 9. 
(2) OJ No L 300, 19. 11. 1984, p. 86. 
(3) OJ No L 196, 18. 7. 1986, p. 56. guarantee that there will be no further delays and secure 
a binding undertaking to that effect from CEN. 
4. The Committee calls on the Commission to take 
whatever steps are necessary to ensure that CEN 
completes its work satisfactorily and on time. Should it 
fail to do so, the Commission must take appropriate 
action in its capacity as the commissioning authority. 
5. The Committee would also draw attention to its 
opinion of 17 September 1986 setting out, in particular, 
important and constructive proposals for standardi­
zation measures to be carefully considered by the 
Commission and CEN. 
Done at Brussels, 25 April 1990. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Directive, particularly as the CEN has published a second 
part of Standard EN 81 relating specifically to hydraulic 
and electrohydraulic lifts. 
2. The Committee questions whether the Commission 
should not have clearly defined the 'appliances actuated by 
fluids (such as oil and hydraulic lifts)' since, in its view, the 
mere deletion of an item from the exceptions in a previous 
Directive is insufficient. It is certainly not clear that the 
proposal now includes 'hydraulic-powered lifts'. 
3. The Committee also approves the technical amend­
ments made to the original Directive 84/529/EEC by 
Directive 86/312/EEC. Neither the Committee nor the Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 84/529/EEC on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrically operated lifts (l) 
(90/C 168/03) 
On 15 January 1990, the Council decided, in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Economic Community, to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services was instructed to prepare the work on 
this topic and adopted its opinion on 4 April 1990. Rapporteur: Mr Pearson. 
The Economic and Social Committee, at its 276th plenary session, meeting of 25 April 1990, 
adopted unanimously the following opinion: