15. 3. 75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 62/33 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
8 October  1974,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  and  a report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 8 January  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Marvier; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 127th  plenary 
session  of 29 and  30 January  1975  (meeting  of 30 
January  1975), 1.1. According  to Article  5 (2) of the proposal,  as 
soon  as the Directive  has been  notified,  the Member 
States  are to ensure  that  the Commission  is informed, 
early  enough  for it to submit  comments,  of any  draft 
provisions  which  they  intend  to adopt  in the  field 
covered  by the Directive. 
1.2. The  Committee  considers  this  paragraph  to be 
too vague,  since  it does  not clearly  stipulate  that  the 
Member  States  must  provide  the  requisite 
information.  The  Committee  would  prefer  a clearer 
wording  on the  lines  of 'the  Member  States  shall 
inform'  — a wording  which  has already  been  used  in 
other  draft  Directives. 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject 
to the following  comment: Done  at Brussels,  30 January  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  modifying  the Council  Directive  of 6 
February  1970  on the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States  relating  to the 
permissible  sound  level  and  the exhaust  system  of motor  vehicles 
The text  referred  to the Commitee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 113  of 25 September  1974,  page  67. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 2 September  1974,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committtee  under  Article  100  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 127th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 29 and  30 January  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 11 September  1974 
by the Council  of the European  Communities,  of the 
proposal  for  a Council  Directive  modifying  the 
Council  Directive  of 6 February  1970  on  the approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
relating  to the  permissible  sound  level  and  the 
exhaust  system  of motor  vehicles; 
Having  regard  to  Article  100  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
No C 62/34 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 15. 3. 7.5 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
8 October  1974  instructing  the  Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  and  a report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 8 January  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Masprone; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 127th  plenary 
session  of 29 and  30 January  1975  (meeting  of 30 
January  1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the  proposal  for  a 
Directive,  subject  to the following  comments: 
1. The  Committee  welcomes  the  proposal  for  a 
Directive  since  it will  make  a major  contribution 
towards  protecting  the public  against  noise  pollution. 
2. Consequently,  the  Committee  approves  the  2 
dB(A)  reduction  for  petrol-engined  motor  vehicles, 
which  category  covers  most  present-day  cars (category  1.1.1.).  A mere  1 dB(A)  reduction  is 
equivalent  to a 21 % cut  in the  noise  emitted  by a 
motor  vehicle,  a reduction  of 2 dB(A)  amounts  to 
37 % less  noise.  As  regards  the  other  vehicle 
categories,  the Committee  considers  that  a reduction 
of more  than  2 dB(A)  would  strike  a fair  balance 
between  the  exigencies  of environmental  protection, 
and the  need  to maintain  production  and  running 
costs  within  limits  which  are  acceptable  to 
consumers.  ^ 
3. The  proposal  was  drawn  up at a time  when  the 
motor  vehicle  indstry  was  in a much  better  position 
than  it is now.  The  situation  has  now  deteriorated 
considerably  and  there  has  been  an  appreciable 
increase  in  unsold  stock.  Consequently  the 
Committee  considers  that  the  Member  States  should 
carefully  consider  the stock  issue  (in times  of crisis  it 
is rash  to make  any  forecast  respecting  the  sale  of 
such  stocks)  before  stipulating  the  date  as from 
which  the  Member  States  may  prohibit  entry  into 
service  under  the  last  paragraph  of Article  2 of the 
proposal  for a Directive. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 January  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE