26. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 159/3 
likely to cause pollution without being of any economic 
benefit, as set out under the fourth recital. 
Discharges into ditches should be banned and the waste 
should be monitored and undergo special purification 
treatment. 
3.3. Article 4(1) (a) 
Particularly in vulnerable areas, the amount of waste 
cannot be calculated without first ascertaining the type 
of soil involved, the content of the waste and the 
number of animals in the area under study. It is there­
fore of prime importance to establish how many ani­
mals are on that area of land. Article 4(1) (a) should 
consequently be amended to take account of this. 
3.4. The Committee is of the view that Articles 6, 7 
and 8 should only cover technical requirements which 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 
1. General comments 
The Committee fully approves the proposed phasing-
out of imperial units. It is necessary to take account of 
(i) OJNoC31,7. 2. 1989, p. 7. are not likely to alter the scope of this Directive or to 
have serious economic consequences for the Member 
States. 
3.5. The reports drawn up under Article 10 should 
be forwarded to the Economic and Social Committee. 
3.6. Annex 2 
Horses should be added to the list of animals, while 
other ruminants used for leisure activities (zoo and 
wild-life park animals, etc.) such as fallow deer, roe 
deer and stags, should be included in the category of 
young stock and beef cattle. 
3.7. Annex 3 
Techniques such as lagooning and the use of bacteria 
and enzymes should be added to the list of measures. 
national customs which often date back a long time; 
any changes will pose problems for people of all ages 
but especially the elderly. 
1.1. The extension of the provisions to 1994 or 1999 
si therefore justified. The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 80/181/EEC on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement (!) 
(89/C 159/02) 
On 16 January 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 100 A 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 5 April 1989. The rapporteur 
was Mr Proumens. 
At its 265th plenary session (meeting of 26 April 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously. 
No C 159/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
1.2. In addition, because of international commerce, 
the Commission proposes to add one measure—the 
troy ounce—for use throughout the Community. 
1.3. The road traffic signs included in the specific 
uses in point 2 of the Annex clearly do not pose any 
problem for other Member States. 
1.4. However, when milk is exported to other Mem­
ber States in pints (another of the units listed in point 2 
of the Annex), the approximate value of the pint should 
be indicated on the packaging. 
Equally, when land sales in the UK and Ireland are advertised outside these two countries, the approximate 
value of the acre should be indicated. 
1.5. Of the units of measurement listed in point 3 of 
the Annex, the fathom and the therm would appear to 
pose no problem because they are traditionally both 
national and international units. 
1.6. On the other hand, the SI (International System) 
equivalents of the pint and fluid ounce should be men­
tioned on exports. 
1.7. Finally, since the ounce is used only for goods 
sold loose from bulk, it is safe to assume that only local 
sales are involved. 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) on guarantees issued by credit 
institutions or insurance undertakings (*) 
(89/C 159/03) 
On 24 January 1989 the Council, acting in pursuance of Article 100A of the EEC Treaty, 
asked the Economic and Social Committee for an Opinion on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Committee's Opinion was prepared by its Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and 
Services. The Section adopted its Opinion on 5 April 1989, on the basis of the report by Mr 
Meyer-Horn. 
The Committee adopted the Opinion set out below at its 265th plenary session (meeting of 
26 April 1989) by a unanimous vote. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. Under the proposed Regulation all public autho­
rities are to be obliged to accept guarantees from credit 
institutions or insurance undertakings licensed in an EC 
Member State. The public authorities will, therefore, no 
0) OJ No C 51, 28. 2. 1989, p. 6. longer have the discretion to assess the creditworthiness 
of such credit institutions or insurance undertakings. 
Rules which are not in accordance with this principle 
are to be abolished. The 1977 Regulation on Com­
munity transit, in particular, is to be amended to pro­
vide for the acceptance of joint and several guarantees 
from any licensed credit institution or authorized 
insurance undertaking in a Member State, rather than