24. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 134/31 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) laying down health conditions for 
the marketing of fish and fish products concerning nematodes 
(88/C 134/12) 
On 2 March 1988 the Council decided 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 appointed Mr. Roseingrave as rapporteur-general, with 
instructions to prepare its work on the matter. At its 254th plenary session, held on 23 and 
24 March 1988 (meeting of 24 March), the Economic and Social Committee adopted, by a 
majority with one vote against and nine abstensions, the following Opinion. 
1. The Committee welcomes the aim of the Com­
mission proposal on nematodes, to lay down health 
conditions, to safeguard the interests of consumers, to 
further harmonisation of the conditions under which 
fish and fish products are marketed, and to bring about 
competition on equal terms. 
2. The Committee notes that the proposal raises 
several problems of primary importance affecting both 
public health and the balance of the market in the 
majority of fish species. 
3. The Committee would point out, however, that 
to resolve these problems the Commission submitted a 
proposal on 17 February 1988 stipulating that it should 
enter into force on the following 1 April. 
4. On the basis of the examination of the Com­
mission document which it has so far been able to carry out, the Committee can already state that in several 
areas it is generally defective and incapable of effective 
implementation. Because of this a number of important 
changes are necessary. 
5. Furthermore, the Committee considers that the 
April 1-deadline proposed by the Commission is un­
realistic in view of the difficulties involved. 
6. The aim of this Committee Opinion is to draw 
the attention of the competent Community authorities 
to the present state of our consideration of the scale of 
the problem and to the means necessary to resolve it in 
accordance with the aims of the Commission proposal. 
7. For its own part, the Committee has taken the 
necessary measures to present, at the next plenary ses­
sion, its considered Opinion on the Commission pro­
posal. 
Done at Brussels, 24 March 1988. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
^oCl^A^ C^thcml]ourn^o^rh^Euron^nC^ornrnuninc^ ^^^ 
fourth paragraph of Article^of the ru^es of procedure 
Ounng the discussions in plenary the following motions for amendments were defeated^ 
^ointA 
replace pomt^by the following^ 
7. Thedangertohealthoccurs whollyor mainly where fish is consumed rawor virtually raw—without 
adequate treatment. 
8. It is considered that some of the methods proposed for the treatment of fish (especially where the smaller 
fishing vessels are concerned^ are impractical or unworkable. 
^. The proposal should take the form ofatemporary regulation for one year, with provision for derogation 
without condition, and with requirements for immediate notification to the Commission and other 
member states of the methods approved for treatment of fish by the competent authorities. 
tO. The Committee has taken the necessary measures to present, as quickly as possible, its considered 
Opinion on the Commission proposals 
^orm^,againsn^,abstentionsm^.