Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 95/53 EC fixing the principles governing the organization of official inspections in the field of animal nutrition'
Date: 1999-03-24
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU control, animal nutrition, food inspection, import policy

18.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 138/17

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament and
Council Directive amending Directive 95/53/EC fixing the principles governing the organization
of official inspections in the field of animal nutrition’

(1999/C 138/05)

On 28 March 1999 the Economic and Social Committee, acting in accordance with Rule 23(3) of its
Rules of Procedure, decided to draw up an opinion on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for
preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 2 March 1999. The rapporteur
was Mr Colombo.

At its 362nd plenary session (meeting of 24 March 1999), the Economic and Social Committee adopted
the following opinion by 89 votes to one, with four abstentions.

1. Aims of the proposal

programme, in the event of sudden contamination posing a
serious risk to human or animal health or the environment.

1.1.
Inspection measures in the field of animal nutrition
are governed by Directive 95/53/EC, for both Community
products and those originating in third countries.

1.5.
The proposal is designed to enable specific inspection
programmes to be drawn up at Community level in addition
to the provisions made by Directive 95/53/EC.

1.2.
In conjunction with the establishment of the internal
market and the removal of internal border checks and on the
basis of experience acquired during the BSE crisis, the European
Union has laid down new rules requiring Member States to
develop a number of common principles for organizing
inspections for the circulation of goods within the Community.

2. General comments

1.3.
The draft directive makes a number of amendments to
Directive 95/53/EC in the light of changes in Community
legislation and from the benefit of experience, which has
revealed shortcomings in the implementation of inspection
measures in critical situations where a rapid Community
response is needed.

1.4.

The proposed changes relate to:

— the harmonization of inspection procedures for all prod-

ucts imported from third countries;

— the need for a system of protective measures and a legal

basis for on-the-spot inspections in third countries;

— the extension of the right to conduct inspections within
the Community beyond the restrictive obligations imposed
under Directive 95/53/EC;

The Committee endorses the Commission’s stated
2.1.
objectives. The proposal succeeds in complementing Directive
95/53/EC on official inspections in the field of animal nutrition
by opening the door to new and more effective inspection
measures, particularly for products from third countries.

2.2.
Recent experience has illustrated the importance of
extending the inspections, to ensure that products imported
from third countries are safe.

2.2.1.
The import of quantities of citrus pulp contaminated
with high levels of dioxin, gave a clear example of the potential
gravity of problems when Community legislation does not
provide for appropriate inspection measures in exporting
countries.

2.3.
Attention should also be drawn to the fact that in the
event of an incident, preventive measures will be taken by
either the Commission or the Member States.

— the Commission’s right to check whether Community rules
are being correctly applied and to take action to bridge any
gaps preventing the rapid introduction of a coordinated

2.3.1.
The proposal makes important changes with regard
to the implications for the Community budget, though the
explanatory memorandum to the Commission proposal states
the contrary.

C 138/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

18.5.1999

3. Specific comments

3.1.
The Committee stresses the continued relevance of the
15th and 17th recitals to Directive 95/53/EC on analytical
methods and laboratories authorized to carry out inspections.

Brussels, 24 March 1999.

3.2.
The Committee takes the view that the first indent of
Article 9(b)(1) of the proposed changes should read as follows:

‘— suspend imports from all or part of the third country
concerned or from one or more specific production plants,
and, where appropriate, any third country of transit
and/or.’

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC)
on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (codified version)’

(1999/C 138/06)

On 22 March 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles
43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-mentioned
proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for
preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 2 March 1999. The rapporteur
was Mr Strasser.

At its 362nd plenary session (meeting of 24 March 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted
the following opinion with 96 votes in favour and six abstentions.

The Commission’s proposal to consolidate the CMO in
1.
sugar was drawn up on the basis of a consolidated version of
Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 and the instruments amending
it. The new regulation therefore supersedes the various regu-
lations incorporated in it.

2.
The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the
Commission proposal, as consolidation will satisfy the need

for clarity in Community legislation. Examination of the text
has revealed that the Commission proposal does not contain
any substantive changes, merely the formal amendments
required by the consolidation process itself.

The text contains misprints, mistranslations and errors
3.
which affect its meaning. The Committee calls on the Com-
mission to vet the text for such errors and to make the
necessary corrections.

Brussels, 24 March 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI