No C 285/10 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 2. 12. 76 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
I. The  following  amendment  was  rejected  at the plenary  session: 
Paragraph  1.5 
'The  Committee  notes  that  the  proposed  Directive  will  apply  to pre-packaged 
foodstuffs,  but  may  also  apply  to foodstuffs  sold  loose  to the  ultimate  consumer. 
However  it is not to apply  to intermediate  products.' 
Voting 
For: 2, against:  majority,  abstentions:  5. 
II. The  following  passage  in the  opinion  of the  Section  for  Protection  of the  Environment, 
Public  Health  and  Consumer  Affairs  was  changed  following  the  acceptance  of an 
amendment  at the plenary  session: 
Paragraph  2.21.4 
'Where  the conditions  under  which  the foodstuff  should  be stored  and  distributed  are 
specified,  the manufacturer  is in as position  to determine,  within  an adequate  safety 
margin,  how  long  the  foodstuff  concerned  will  remain  completely  fit for  human 
consumption  and  retain  all its essential  qualities.' 
Voting 
Adopted  unanimously. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Decision  establishing  a uniform  procedure  for 
the exchange  of information  on the  quality  of surface  fresh  water  in the  Community 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 133  of 14 June  1976,  page  25. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 12 May  1976,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
2. 12. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 285/11 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
141st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 September  1976. 
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  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 12 May  1976  for  an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
13 May  1976,  instructing  the  Section  for  Protection 
of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Protection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and 
Consumer  Affairs  on 16 September  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Eboli, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 141st  plenary 
session,  held  on 29 and  30 September  1976  (meeting 
of 29 September  1976), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject  to the 
comments  set out below. 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  mainstay  of the  drive  to prevent  physical, 
chemical  and  biological  deterioration  of  the 
environment  through  pollution  is  a thorough 
knowledge  of  the  situation.  This  has  been 
consistently  recognized  by  the  Committee,  and  is 
reaffirmed  by the  Commission  in its second  action 
programme  on  the  environment.  For  a concerted 
Community  drive  against  pollution,  it is essential  to 
have  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  situation 
throughout  the  Community.  The  present  proposal  is 
meant  to supply  that  knowledge  about  pollution  of 
the Community's  rivers. 1.2. The  Committee  is therefore  pleased  that  the 
Commission  has  submitted  the  proposal.  Human 
health  and  the  well-being  of animal  and  plant  life  are 
decisively  influenced  by the  quality  of surface  fresh 
water,  and  have  been  found  to suffer  serious  damage 
from  pollution  of  this  water.  The  proposed 
arrangements  will  increase  the  scope  for  action  to 
combat  this  important  category  of pollution. 
1.3. It  is important  not  to neglect  the  aesthetic 
aspect  of  water  quality,  e.g.,  the  presence  of 
substances  or wastes  which  affect  its colour  or smell. 
1.4. The  sampling,  sample  preservation  and 
measuring  methods  need  to be standardized  if data 
are to  be  really  comparable.  Standardization  is 
difficult  to achieve  at the present  time,  however.  The 
Committee  considers  that  the standard  forms  and  the 
standard  ways  of presenting  data  on  the  forms, 
proposed  by  the  Commission,  will  allow  the 
programme  to get underway  immediately,  and  could 
form  a basis  for a standardization  of methods. 
1.5. The  Committee  would  like  to  see  new 
sampling  and  measuring  stations  set up as quickly  as 
possible,  so as to increase  our  knowledge  of water 
quality.  If necessary,  Community  help  should  be 
provided. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  6 
2.1.1.  The  adaptation  of the  Decision  to technical 
progress  provided  for  in this  Article  should  also 
cover  standardization  of methods. 
2.1.2.  It  is therefore  proposed  that  a third  indent 
be added  in Article  6, reading: 
'— sampling,  preservation  of  samples  and 
measuring  methods'. 
No C 285/12 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 2. 12. 76 
2.2. Article  8 
2.2.1.  It  should  be stated  that  the  Committee  for 
the adaptation  of the Decision  to technical  progress  is 
to meet  with  a certain  regularity. 
2.2.2.  It  is therefore  suggested  that  the  following 
be added  to Article  8 (1): 
'The  Committee  shall  at all events  meet  at least 
once  a year.' 
3. Annex  II 
3.1. While  being  aware  of the difficulties  involved, 
the Section  suggests  that  hexavalent  chromium  and sulphates  be included  among  the chemical  parameters 
on which  data  must  be supplied. 
3.2. Concerning  the  microbiological  parameters, 
the method  of seeding  in agar  at 37 and  22 °C should 
be prescribed  with  a view  to obtaining  a general 
picture  of bacteriological  pollution. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 September  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  on the conclusion  of a convention  on 
the protection  of the  Mediterranean  Sea  against  pollution  and  a protocol  on the 
prevention  of the  pollution  of the  Mediterranean  Sea  by Dumping  from  ships  and 
aircraft 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 122  of 3 June  1976,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 18 May  1976,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  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 
141st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 September  1976. 
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  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 18 May  1976  for an 
opinion, Having  regard  to the  decision  by its Bureau  on 13 
May  1976,  in anticipation  of an imminent  request  for 
an opinion  instructing  the  Section  for  Protection  of 
the Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to previous  Committee  opinions  on 
related  matters,  and  in particular  the  opinion  on the