31. 12. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 354/9 
research and development in these areas is vital as a base 
from which to develop market-led products and process at 
the innovation stage, whatever the outcome of the 
discussions on the European Technological Community 
and the Eureka proposals. 
4.5. Concerted action programme on the use oflignocel-
lulosis containing by-products for animal feeding 
The Council decided on this concerted action programme 
on 2 April 1984 (1) for a four-year programme. The 
Committee approved the proposal on 29 February 1984 (2). 
It is integrated into this proposal in order to be extended 
until its end in 1988. 4.6. Article 2 — Transfer of funds from one sub-
programme to another 
The Committee notes a permitted variation of 15 % in the 
final appropriation for any subprogramme from the 
original appropriation set out in the Annex. 
The Committee welcomes this in the light of previous 
recommendations by the Committee for flexibility in fund 
allocation to take account of unforeseen developments in 
the course of research programmes. 
4.7. Article 4 — Review 
This Article proposes that the programme shall be reviewed 
at the beginning of the third year. 
The Committee would suggest instead: 
'The programme shall be reviewed and where possible the 
results evaluated independently at the beginning of the 
third year'. 
The Committee does not feel the need to comment further. 
(!) OJ No L 103, 16. 4. 1984. 
(2) OJ No C 103, 16. 4. 1984. Article 5 
report Annual progress reports and coordination 
The Committee feels the relevant reports should also be 
communicated to the Committee. 
Done at Brussels, 18 December 1985. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC as regards 
the definitive arrangements made in relation to enzootic bovine leukosis as laid down by 
Directive 80/1102/EEC 0) 
(85/C 354/06) 
On 15 November 1985 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, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 5 December 1985 in the light of the oral report by Mr Storie-Pugh. 
At its 232nd plenary session (meeting of 18 December 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion by a unanimous vote. 
No C 354/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 85 
1. The Committee agrees with the Commission pro­
posals regarding enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). 
2. The Committee strongly encourages the endeavours 
of the Commission in supporting the definition of 
monoclonal antibody for the enzyme-linked 
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
3. The Committee commends the publication of the 
relative methodology for the ELISA method. 
4. The Committee recommends the drafting of pro­
posals for a Community EBL eradication scheme, in 
anticipation of the practical application of the ELISA 
method to EBL virus diagnosis. 
(!) OJ No C 297, 20.11.1985, p. 6. 
Done at Brussels, 18 December 1985. 
1. The Committee feels that the system of production 
quotas in the sugar sector should be retained for the time 
being, because there is still no valid alternative. 
1.1. Despite certain limitations and flaws which have 
given rise to difficulties in some Member States, the existing 
system has, on the whole, proved useful. 
2. The Committee also considers it necessary to retain 
(!) OJ No C 219, 29. 8. 1985, p. 4. 5. The Committee is of the opinion that, in the 
meantime, it is in the general interests of livestock 
producers and the livestock industry, and in the interest of 
trade, both intra-Community and export to third countries, 
that Member States should pursue current EBL diagnostic 
and prophylactic measures with increased vigour. 
6. The Committee is also of the opinion that the present 
proposal complies with the general principle that a desire to 
simplify the trade in live animals and meat products 
(including the reduction in non-tariff barriers) — as 
envisaged by the Internal Market White Paper — should 
not override the need to continue with a strict and 
scientifically based policy of controlling animal disease in 
the interests of agricultural economy and human health. 
Reduction in health certification and the use of a 'health 
mark' should be introduced cautiously with an apprecia­
tion of the potential hazards involved. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
the principle of self-financing, whereby producers bear the 
cost of marketing sugar in excess of consumption. 
3. Whilst upholding the abovementioned principles, the 
Committee does not believe that they automatically 
necessitate the amendment of Regulation EEC No 1785/81, 
as proposed by the Commission. 
4. The Commission proposal is based almost exclusi­
vely on an increase in producers' contributions which the 
Committee considers untenable; the Committee therefore 
rejects the proposal and would make the following 
comments. Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) 
No 1785/81 on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (*) 
(85/C 354/07) 
On 13 September 1985 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, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 5 December 1985, in the light of the report by Mr Delia Croce. 
At its 232nd plenary session (meeting of 18 December 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion by 91 votes to 3, with 3 abstentions: