3. 5. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 112/7 
Opinion on the proposal for a Directive amending Council Directive 71/118/EEC on health 
problems affecting trade in fresh poultrymeat 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 252 of 2 October 1981, page 11. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 5 October 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 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 195th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 February 1982. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 5 October 1981 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Directive amending Council 
Directive 71/118/EEC on health problems affecting 
trade in fresh poultrymeat, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
27 October 1981 instructing the Section for Agriculture 
to prepare an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Section for 
Agriculture at its 232nd meeting held on 4 and 5 February 
1982 (meeting of 4 February), 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Jaschick, 
Having regard to its previous work on the matter, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 195th plenary 
session held on 24 and 25 February 1982 (meeting of 
24 February), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 1. The Committee welcomes the proposal, subject to 
the following comments. 
2. The proposal is to be incorporated in Directive 
71/118/EEC so that there is only one all-embracing 
Directive which deals with the health conditions 
governing trade in fresh poultrymeat. 
3. The Committee notes that consumer protection is 
likely to be enhanced by the introduction of 
microbiological checks in all the Member States. 
However, the aim should be for the Community to have 
compulsory standard methods of checking, in which a 
minimum sampling rate is laid down. This rule should 
ensure that potential distortions of competition caused by 
different requirements in respect of samples will be 
eliminated in future; Furthermore, there should be a 
standard procedure for the charging of costs. 
4. The Committee notes that the sole purpose of the 
prescribed microbiological checks is to provide 
information about the general standard of hygiene in 
establishments producing fresh poultrymeat. They are 
not to be used to confiscate meat or close down 
establishments, which are matters dealt with in the parent 
Directive. 
5. The Committee would point to the need not to put 
jobs in jeopardy or impede technical progress. However, 
this must not delay the implementation of the hygiene 
provisions which, in the Committee's view, should be 
given priority throughout the veterinary sector. 
Done at Brussels, 24 February 1982. 
The Chairman of 
the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE