2 ^ 1 2 8 6 COfficialjournal of the European Communities ^oC328^9
Opinion on the proposal foraCouncil Directive on the approximation of the laws of the
member States relating to foodstuffs Intended for particular nutritional uses(^)
(86BC328^^
On 29April 1986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee under
A r t i c l e l ^ o f t h e l r e a t y establishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity on theabove
mentioned proposal
The Section for protection of the Environment, public Idealth and Consumer Affairs,which
was responsible for preparing the Committee'swork on the subject, adopted its opinion on
land2September 1986 in the light of the report by Airs Williams.
At its 239th plenary session (meeting of 17 September 1986) the Economic and Social
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously^
1, Oeneral comments
1.1, The Committee approves the Commission'spro
posal subject to the following comments,
1.2, TheCommitteehasreservationsregardingthe
proposed 5Advisory Committee procedure, but this
subject is dealt with in its opinion on^Completionof
the Internal markets CommunityLegislation on Eood^
stuffs',
1.3, The Committee feels that in an overall sensea
clearer distinction should be made in the proposal
between foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses which
have a medical application and those which are for
^ordinary'consumption.
2, Specific comments
21 A r r ^ ^ 2 ^
2.1.1, In defining the categories of persons to whom
this directive applies, it is inappropriate to classify
categories of people who are unwell (i,e,with disturbed
metabolism or in special physiological condition)
together withacategory in apparent good health(i,e,
infants or young children),
2.1.2, Thefact that the te^t of this Article is the
same as that in the original Directive 77^9^EEC is not
sufficient justification for continuing the practice in the
present proposal,
2.1.3, The Committee therefore asks that the distinct
tion be more clearly made and expressed.
22 A r ^ 2 ^
2,2,1, The Committee highlights the problem of
deciding what isa^food'and what isa^diet'product.
( a o i e ^ e t ^ ^ ^ m ^ o B
2.2.2, The words^dietetic'or^dietary'are not clearly
defined in the proposal, either in the absolute sense, or
in relation to each other. It appears also that there may
be some confusion when these words are translated
into the different Community languages. Eurthermore,
these words apply only to foodstuffs for unwell persons,
and therefore are not applicable to food for infants or
young children in good health,
2.2.3, This reinforces the argument foraclearerdis
tinction to be made between the ^healthy' and the
amwelf as requested above,
2,2m, The Committee asks that this article be re
examined in the light of the foregoing comments,
23 A r r ^ ^
The Committee considers the phrase ^Specific directives
^^yinclude'as too loose, and suggests that, ifamore
rigid approach were adopted, thedraftingofthe Specific
Directives would be facilitated,
2m. A r r ^ A ^ ^ ^ ^
The expression dist of additives'should be replaced by
^positive list of permitted additives',
2,eo, A r r ^ A ^
2,eo.l. The Committee is concerned by the problem
of fraudulent claims, particularly in relation to health
foods, and draws the attention of governments in Aiem
ber States to the need for effective enforcement of
existing national laws and to relevant Community legis
lation,
2B0.2. On the matter of labelling and advertising
generally,the Committee draws attention to the need
to supplement legislation by education and information
particularly wherequestionsof consumer health and
safety are involved,
2,6, A r r ^ 9
This has been dealt with under the general comments'.
No C 328/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 12. 86
2.7. Annex
2.7.1. The Committee notes that Annex I lists four
groups of foods for which specific provisions shall be
laid down, but that two of these groups — infant
formulae and follow-up milk — are already the subject
of a proposal for a single Directive covering both. The
information in the Annex is therefore confusing and
should be corrected perhaps by a footnote thereto.
2.7.2. Furthermore, the terms used in the different
Community languages on follow-up milks present some
anomalies and need to be re-examined and stan-
dardized.
Done at Brussels, 17 September 1986.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Gerd MUHR
Opinion on the proposal for a Council recommendation on the coordinated introduction of
the integrated services digital network (ISDN) in the European Community^)
(86/C 328/05)
On 9 June 1986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the
abovementioned proposal.
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 3 September 1986 in the light
of the report by Mr Nierhaus.
At is 239th plenary session (meeting of 17 September 1986) the Committee adopted the
following opinion unanimously:
1. Introduction
1.1. The further development of telematics in the
Community will have considerable economic and social
repercussions which are difficult to gauge at the
moment: the creation of a standardized Community-
wide integrated services digital network (ISDN) for the
transmission of information will play a key role here.
This is the only way in which it will be possible in the
medium and long-term to attain the main goals of
the Community's policy towards telecommunications
which were approved by the Council on 17 December
1984. These goals include, above all,
— creating a Community-wide market for telecom-
munication terminals and equipment, and
— improving the development of advanced telecom-
munication services and networks.
1.2. In consequence, the need to establish a Com-
munity-wide ISDN is set out in more or less explicit
terms in all important Commission documents on the
subject of telematics.
1.3. The Economic and Social Committee has point-
ed out, especially in its opinions on the Commission
communication to the Council on telecommunications
and the report and proposal for a Council Decision on
a preparatory action for RACE, that the development
of a Community-wide integrated services digital net-
work is of primordial importance for telecommuni-
cations.
1.4. This plan represents one of the major challenges
in the field of technology: using existing telephone
networks as its basis, it is likely to be phased in by
the end of the century and will require considerable
investment.
(J) OJ No C 157, 24. 6. 1986, p. 3.
1.5. One reason why the Commission's plan acquires
a special significance is that comparable developments
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy