98/235/EC: Commission Decision of 11 March 1998 on the advisory committees dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy
Date: 1998-03-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), common agricultural policy, operation of the Institutions

24. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/59

COMMISSION DECISION

of 11 March 1998

on the advisory committees dealing with matters covered by the common agri-
cultural policy

(98/235/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Article 1

Whereas the Commission should seek the views of the
economic sectors and consumers on matters arising in
connection with the operation of the various common
organisations of the market and other areas covered by
the common agricultural policy;

Whereas all the economic sectors directly involved in the
operation of the market organisations and affected by
agricultural policy decisions, as well as consumers, should
have an opportunity to participate in drafting the opin-
ions requested by the Commission;

Whereas relevant economic federations and consumer
groups in the Member States have set up organisations at
European Union level, which are thus in a position to
represent those concerned in all the Member States;

Whereas several agricultural advisory committees have
been set up by various Commission decisions (1) since
1962;

Whereas, following the reform of the common agricul-
tural policy in 1992, it has proved necessary to combine
some committees and make provision for new ones;

Whereas a study on the operation of
the advisory
committees has shown that there is scope for further
improvements; whereas various procedures and defini-
tions,
the allocation of seats among the groups rep-
resented and the rules for renewing the committees
should therefore be adjusted;

the provisions

Whereas
relating to the agricultural
advisory committees have been amended on several occa-
sions and are contained in 27 different
instruments;
whereas they have therefore become difficult to apply and
should be consolidated in a single Decision,

(1) (cid:190) Commission Decisions 87/70/EEC to 87/93/EEC of 7
January 1987 (OJ L 45, 14. 2. 1987, pp. 1 to 68).

(cid:190) Commission Decision 89/567/EEC of 20 October 1989

(OJ L 309, 26. 10. 1989, p. 39).

(cid:190) Commission Decision 81/195/EEC of 16 March 1981 (OJ

L 88, 2. 4. 1981, p. 42).

(cid:190) Commission Decision 90/351/EEC of 29 June 1990 (OJ L

172, 5. 7. 1990, p. 33).

The following advisory committees are hereby set up

1.
under the auspices of the Commission:

(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on the Common Agricul-

tural Policy,

(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Arable Crops,
(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Non-Food and Textile

Crops,

(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Livestock Products,
(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Fruit, Vegetables and

Flowers,

(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Specialist Products,
(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Forestry and Cork,
(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Product

Health and Safety,

(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Rural Development,
(cid:190) the Advisory Committee on Agriculture and the

Environment.

2.
The above committees may be consulted by the
Commission on all matters relating to the common agri-
cultural policy and the policy of rural development and
its implementation, and in particular the common organ-
isations of
the market and the measures which the
Commission is called on to take in that context.

The chairman of each committee may propose on
3.
his own initiative or at the request of any of the interest
groups represented that
the Commission consult his
committee on any matter within its competence.

Article 2

The Committees shall be composed of representatives of
the following socioeconomic interest groups: agricultural
producers, agricultural cooperatives, the agricultural and
food-manufacturing industries, the agricultural products
and foodstuffs trade, farm workers and workers in the
food industry, and consumers. In specific cases, repres-
entatives of other
interests may be appointed. The
composition of the committees shall be as set out in the
Annexes hereto.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

24. 3. 98

Article 3

Committees shall consist of a maximum of 40 members,
depending on the size of the sector in question, apart
from the Advisory Committees on the Common Agricul-
tural Policy and on Rural Development, which shall have
60 members. The number of seats and their allocation to
the various European organisations referred to in Article
4(1) shall be as set out for each committee in the Annexes
hereto.

Article 4

1. Committee members shall be appointed by the
Commission on proposals from the socioeconomic or-
ganisations established at Community level and listed in
the Commission’s register of interest groups. The socio-
economic organisations must be those that are most
representative of the interests specified in Article 2 and
their activities must be connected with the common agri-
cultural policy, common market organisation or an other
field concerned.

2. At the invitation of the Commission, the socioeco-
nomic organisations shall put forward three candidates of
different nationalities for each seat to be filled. Their
proposals shall take into account the various interests to
be represented in their sector.

3. Committee members shall be appointed for five
years. Their appointments may be renewed. Members
shall not be remunerated for their services.

After expiration of the term, committee members shall
remain in office until they are replaced or until their
appointments are renewed. If a member resigns or dies, or
if the body that proposed a member requests his or her
replacement, that member shall be replaced in accord-
ance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1.

4. A list of committee members shall be published by
the Commission in the ‘C' series of the Official Journal
of the European Communities each time members are
replaced.

Article 5

1. One or more standing groups and/or working parties
may be set up under
the auspices of a committee.
Standing groups shall consist of trade representatives or
experts appointed by the Commission on a proposal from
the socioeconomic organisations concerned. They shall
deal with matters relating to a specific sector on a regular
basis.

2. At the request of an advisory committee, the mix of
socioeconomic interest groups represented on a standing
group may be altered by the Commission.

3. At the request of an advisory committee, a group of
experts may be set up. Such groups shall comprise experts
in the
the Commission after
consulting the socioeconomic organisations concerned.

field appointed by

4. Any member of a group unable to attend a meeting
may be replaced. The socioeconomic organisation which
that member represents may propose a replacement to
the secretariat of the group.

Article 6

1. After consulting the Commission, each committee
shall elect a chairman from among its members. The
chairman shall be elected, in the case of the first ballot, by
a two-thirds majority of the members present and, in the
case of subsequent ballots, by a simple majority of the
members present. In the event of a tie, the Commission
shall provide a chairman on a temporary basis.

The committee may provide for a change of chairman-
ship after half the term of office has elapsed.

2.
Each committee shall elect two vice-chairmen. The
vice-chairmen shall be chosen from among the repres-
entatives of socioeconomic organisations to which the
chairman does not belong. They shall be elected in
accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1.

Each committee may,
in accordance with the same
procedure, elect an executive comprising, in addition to
the chairman, a representative of each socioeconomic
organisation represented on the committee.

The executive of the committee shall prepare and or-
ganise its work. One officer
shall
produce a summary record after each committee meeting.

(the ‘rapporteur')

3.
Standing groups shall elect a chairman and a vice-
chairman from among their members in accordance with
the procedure laid down in paragraph 1. The chairman
and vice-chairman may not belong to the same socioeco-
nomic organisation. The chairmen of groups shall draw
up a summary record and report on their work at the next
meeting of the relevant advisory committee.

Article 7

1. Only committee members or alternate members,
invited in
Commission representatives
accordance with paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 may attend
committee meetings.

and persons

2. Only members and alternate members of groups, the
chairman of the relevant committee, Commission rep-
resentatives and persons invited in accordance with para-
graphs 4 and 6 may attend meetings of groups.

If a committee member in unable to attend, the
3.
organisation or organisations to which that member’s seat
is allocated may designate a replacement, who must be
chosen from a list drawn up by mutual agreement
between the Commission and the organisation or organ-
isations in question. The list shall contain a number of
names corresponding to the total of members
rep-
resenting the organisation or organisations in question,
but not exceed ten persons.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/61

Where a replacement is designated, the committee sec-
retariat must be notified at least three working days before
the meeting.

4. At the request of an organisation to which one or
more seats on a committee or in a group are allocated, the
chairman of the committee or group may, in agreement
with the Commission staff, invite its general secretary to
attend committee meetings as an observer.

However, if the general secretary of an organisation is
unable to attend, he may assign his observer’s seat to
another person designated by him.

5. Observers shall not have the right to speak. They
may, however, be invited to do so by the chairman in
agreement with the Commission.

6. At the request of an organisation to which one or
more seats are allocated, and when the matters on the
agenda are of a highly technical nature, the chairman of a
committee or group may, in agreement with the Commis-
sion, invite one or more experts to take part in the delib-
erations of the committee or group.

The Commission may, on its own initiative, invite any
person suitably well qualified in one of the subjects on
the agenda to take part
the
committee or standing group as an expert. However,
experts shall participate only in the discussion of the
matter concerning which they are invited to attend.

in the deliberations of

Article 8
In agreement with the Commission each committee or
standing group may set up working groups to facilitate its
work.

sion shall send out agendas to members eight working
days before the meeting, preferably by electronic means.

Article 11

1.
The committees shall discuss the matters on which
the Commission has requested an opinion. No vote shall
be taken at the end of the discussion. When seeking an
opinion of a committee, the commission may set a time
limit within which the opinion shall be given.

If a committee reaches unanimous agreement on the
opinion to be given, it shall formulate joint conclusions
and attach them to the summary record. The Commission
shall communicate the outcome of a committee’s discus-
sions to the Council if this is proposed by the committee.

2.
The views expressed by socioeconomic organisations
represented on a committee shall be included in a report
forwarded to the Commission.

Article 12

Without prejudice to Article 214 of the Treaty, where the
Commission indicates that the opinion requested or ques-
tion raised involves a matter of a confidential nature,
members of the committees and groups reporting to them
and other participants in meetings shall be under obliga-
tion not to disclose information which has come to their
knowledge through the work of the committee or group
in question.
the
committee or group referred to or their replacements and
Commission representatives shall attend meetings.

In such cases only members of

Article 9

Article 13

Each committee and group shall be convened by the
1.
Commission and shall generally meet at the Commis-
sion’s main offices. Meetings of the executive shall be
convened by the chairman in agreement with the
Commission.

2. Representatives of the relevant Commission depart-
ments may take part in the meetings of each committee,
executive and group.

The Commission provides secretarial services for the

3.
committee, executives and groups.

Article 10
The chairman shall inform the Commission of the items
to be included on the agenda for the committee, 12
working days before the committee meets. The Commis-

Commission Decisions 81/195/EEC, 87/70/EEC to 87/
93/EEC, 89/567/EEC and 90/351/EEC are hereby
repealed.

Article 14

This Decision shall apply from 1 April 1998.

Done at Brussels, 11 March 1998.

For the Commission
Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

L 88/62

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Official Journal of the European Communities

24. 3. 98

ANNEX I

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

Seats (Article 4)
22
8
8
8
5
5
4

24. 3. 98

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/63

ANNEX II

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ARABLE CROPS

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITON

(a) Standing group on cereals

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Other

(b) Standing group on oilseeds and protein crops

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(c) Standing group on dried fodder

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry

(d) Standing group on sugar

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers

(e) Standing group on rice

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry

(f) Standing group on starch

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry

Seats (Article 4)
17
5
6
6
2
2
2

Seats
13
6
7
6
1
1

Seats
12
5
6
6
1
1

Seats
3
3
1
5

Seats
12
4
4
6
1
1

Seats
5
2
4
4

Seats
4
2
3
6

L 88/64

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Official Journal of the European Communities

24. 3. 98

ANNEX III

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NON-FOOD AND TEXTILE CROPS

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

(a) Standing group on renewable energy

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(b) Standing group on cotton

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Other

(c) Standing group on flax and hemp

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry

Seats (Article 4)
17
5
5
8
2
2
1

Seats
12
5
5
6
1
1

Seats
5
3
3
4
1

Seats
6
2
3
4

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/65

ANNEX IV

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

Seats (Article 4)
17
4
5
8
2
2
2

(a) Standing group on milk

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Workers

(b) Standing group on beef

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(c) Standing group on sheepmeat and goatmeat

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(d) Standing group on pigmeat

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Workers

(e) Standing group on poultrymeat and eggs

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers

Seats
12
5
5
6
1
1

Seats
12
6
5
5
1
1

Seats
12
5
4
3
1
1

Seats
12
6
5
6
1
1

Seats
13
6
5
5
1

L 88/66

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Official Journal of the European Communities

24. 3. 98

ANNEX V

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

(a) Standing group on fresh fruit and vegetables

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(b) Standing group on processed fruit and vegetables

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Other

(c) Standing group on cut flowers and ornamental plants

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Other

Seats (Article 4)
16
6
7
5
2
2
2

Seats
12
6
6
5
1
2

Seats
8
4
3
5
1

Seats
7
3
6
1
1

24. 3. 98

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/67

ANNEX VI

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SPECIALIST PRODUCTS

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

(a) Standing group on wine-growing

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(b) Standing group on spirit drinks

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers

(c) Standing group on olives and derived products

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers

(d) Standing group on beekeeping

Beekeepers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers

(e) Standing group on hops

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry

(f) Standing group on tobacco

Growers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers

Seats (Article 4)
17
5
6
6
3
2
1

Seats
10
7
5
5
1
1

Seats
2
2
2
5
1

Seats
9
5
5
5
1

Seats
6
2
3
2
1

Seats
5
3
5
3

Seats
6
4
4
4
1

L 88/68

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Official Journal of the European Communities

24. 3. 98

ANNEX VII

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY AND CORK

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Producers (farmers managing woodland, private and public woodland owners)
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

Seats (Article 4)
23
1
8
3
1
4

24. 3. 98

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/69

ANNEX VIII

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

(a) Standing group on organic farming

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(b) Standing group on veterinary matters

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

(c) Standing group on plant health

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

(d) Standing group on promotion of agricultural products

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Consumers
Other

(e) Standing group on animal welfare

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

Seats (Article 4)
12
6
5
5
2
5
5

Seats
6
2
2
2
2
3

Seats
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Seats
3
3
3
3
2
2
3

Seats
7
4
5
4
1
1

Seats
3
2
2
2
2
2
4

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(f) Standing group on seed

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

(g) Standing group on feedingstuffs

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers

Seats
8
3
6
3
1
1
4

Seats
6
4
4
4
1
1

24. 3. 98

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 88/71

ANNEX IX

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Producers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

2. STANDING GROUPS AND THEIR COMPOSITION

(a) Standing group women in rural areas

Farmers, rural family members
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

Seats (Article 4)
22
4
5
5
5
3
16

Seats
6
1
2
1
1
2
2

ANNEX X

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

1. INTERESTS REPRESENTED (Article 2)

Farmers
Agricultural cooperatives
Traders
Industry
Workers
Consumers
Other

Seats (Article 4)
14
3
3
3
2
2
7