10. 9. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 227/19 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  introducing  Community  measures  for the 
prevention  of classical  swine  fever 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 23 of 26 January  1979,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 23 January  1979  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43 and  100  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 168th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 May  1979. 
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  Articles  43 
and 100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of the 
European  Communities  on 23 January  1979  for  an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
23 January  instructing  the  Section  for  Agriculture  to 
prepare  the Committee's  work  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to its earlier  work  in this  area, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Agriculture  at its meeting  held  on 26 April  1979, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Wick, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 168th  plenary 
session  held  on 22 and  23 May  1979  (meeting  of 22 May 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: The Committee  endorses  the  Commission  proposal 
subject  to the following  comments: 
I. General  comments 
1. The  Committee  has  consistently  supported  the 
Commission's  efforts  to  upgrade  the  health  of 
Community  livestock.  It  therefore  applauds  the 
proposals  for  systematic  Community-wide  measures  to 
control  swine  fever. 
2. It  welcomes  the decision  to use a Regulation  rather 
than  a Directive  since  watertight  Community-wide  rules 
are the only  effective  way  to contain  outbreaks. 
3. The  draft  Regulation  deals  only  with  emergency 
control  measures.  It does  not  provide  for  a sustained 
eradication  campaign. 
The Committee  notes  however  that  in the near  future  the 
Commission  intends  to submit  a draft  Regulation 
providing  for a Community-wide  eradication  campaign. 
4. The  Committee  feels  that  as a matter  of urgency  the 
two control  and  eradication  instruments  should  be 
discussed  and  adopted  together.  This  would  probably  be 
the most  effective  way  to rid  the  Community  of this 
scourge. 
5. If  the  draft  Regulation  on eradication  cannot  be 
submitted  in the near  future,  the present  proposal  should 
be adopted  as quickly  as possible. 
No C 227/20 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 10. 9. 79 
6. When  the  proposed  measures  are  being 
implemented  the  regulations  should  be scrupulously 
adhered  to and  watertight  checks  should  be carried  out. 
7. The  Committee  welcomes  the  proposal  for  a 
Council  Decision  on a financial  contribution  from  the 
Community  to Spain  for the eradication  of African  swine 
fever  (Doc.  COM(79)  5 fin).  Although  this  is a different 
strain  of the  disease,  the  Committee  is in favour  of 
eradicating  the  disease  in areas  bordering  on  the 
Community. 
II. Specific  comments 
Article  1 
The English  version  uses  the word  'prevention'.  This  is 
not an accurate  rendering  of the term  used  in the other 
language  versions. 
Article  2 (g) 
In the German  version  the  term  'bestimmter  Tierarzt' 
should  be replaced  by 'beauftragter  Tierarzt'  in the 
interests  of clarity. 
Article  8 (1) (a), second  paragraph 
In the  German  version  the  second  phrase  should  be 
amended  to  read  'deren  Zweck  die  sofortige 
Verfolgung 
Article  8 (1) (a) and (1) (b) 
The French  version  is rather  garbled  and  should  be 
amended  to read: 
'Les exploitations  qui,  d'apres  des  informations 
confirmees  ou constatations  du veterinaire  officiel, 
peuvent  etre  a l'origine  de l'introduction  de la peste 
porcine  dans  l'exploitation  visee  a Particle  4 par suite 
de mouvements  de personnes  . . Article  14 
Arrangements  for vaccination  should  be clarified.  The 
present  wording  could  lead  to different  practices  in 
different  Member  States  with  the result  that  vaccinated 
and non-vaccinated  animals  might  come  into  contact  in 
the course  of trade. 
— The  second  proposal  now  in preparation  may 
provide  for  the  eradication  of swine  fever  and 
prohibit  the use of vaccine. 
— In the meantime,  effective  provision  should  be made 
to prevent  vaccinated  pigs  from  entering  areas  where 
vaccination  is not permitted.  Meat  from  vaccinated 
pigs should  not be permitted  to enter  these  areas. 
Article  IS (1) 
Some  language  versions  are unintelligible  and  should  be 
aligned  on the French  version. 
Article  IS (2) 
The Committee  points  out that  treated  swill  is to be used 
exclusively  for feeding  fattening  pigs  which  are for direct 
slaughter. 
Article  16 
The first  paragraph  should  refer  not only  to the Standing 
Veterinary  Committee  but  also  to the  Economic  and 
Social  Committee  and  directly  affected  groups,  so as to 
ensure  that  they  are  involved  in implementing  the 
measures. 
Annexes 
The Committee  does  not  wish  to take  a stand  on the 
technical  Annexes. 
Done  at Brussels,  22 May  1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO