Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1975 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities > Report No. 20 - Poultry Meat Trade

REPORT

1. Introduction

In this report the Joint Committee proposes to deal with a miscellaneous group of Commission proposals which it has examined. The Joint Committee has no objection in principle to any of these proposals and proposes to confine itself to comments on a limited number of points.

2. Transport Statistics

The Joint Committee has examined two proposals for Council Directives on returns to be made on the basis of regional statistics in respect of (a) international carriage of goods by road (R/1822/75) and (b) national carriage of goods by road (R/1489/74). Proposal (R/1822/75) was sent to the Council on 30th June, 1975 and the other proposal has been before the Council since 1971.

The Joint Committee notes that both proposals are concerned with the collection of information which the Commission requires for the administration of the Common Transport Policy. In its view the cost of carrying out statistical surveys solely for Community purposes should be borne by the budget of the Communities. It hopes that this point will be pressed in regard to both proposals.

3. Community Aid for Projects in the Hydrocarbons Sector

Regulation No. 3056/73/EEC provides for the granting of support to Community projects in the hydrocarbons sector. Applications are granted by unanimous decision of the Council acting on a proposal from the Commission. The Joint Committee has examined the Commission’s proposal of 3rd September, 1975 (R/2169/75) for the grant of support to 38 projects in the form of subsidies repayable if the results prove commercially exploitable.

The Joint Committee notes that one of the projects being recommended is by an Irish firm for a submerged vehicle tool system. It is informed that there were two other Irish projects submitted but these are not being recommended by the Commission.

4. Taximeters

The Joint Committee has also examined a proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to taximeters (R/1869/75). The purpose of this proposal is to ensure that taximeters which have received EEC pattern approval and which bear the EEC pattern symbol and verification mark can be put on the market in any Member State.

In this country taximeters are compulsory equipment for public hire vehicles in Dublin and Cork only. All taximeters in use here are imported from Great Britain and have a life span of about ten years. No additional expense will be imposed on taxi-owners if the proposed Directive is adopted because there will be no obligation to switch to the EEC type of taximeter. The Directive would merely ensure that the Member States cannot prevent such type being put on the market.

The proposed Directive would also impose on national authorities duties in relation to adjustment of instruments, regulation and inspection of fare rates and inspection of instruments. There is already statutory provision for carrying out these operations in this country but it seems to the Joint Committee that certain relevant regulations may require amendment if the Directive is adopted.

5. Preservatives in Foodstuffs

Directive 64/54/EEC, as amended, prescribes what preservatives may be used in foodstuffs intended for human consumption. Directive 65/66/EEC, as amended, fixes criteria of purity for permitted preservatives. These Directives have been implemented in this country by the Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations, 1973 [S.I. No. 147 of 1973].

The Joint Committee has examined three proposals for the amendment of the basic Directives on this subject. Proposal R/1518/75 proposes to specify purity criteria for eight preservatives of those permitted by Directive 64/54/EEC as amended. Proposals R/1551/75 and R/2525/75 seek to amend Directive 64/54/EEC (list of permitted preservatives) and Directive 65/66/EEC (purity criteria) in respect of three new preservatives. Acceptance of these proposals will presumably involve amendment of the Irish regulations.

In so far as the proposals involve allowing the use of additional preservatives they can be regarded as easing the position of manufacturers. As far as the other element involved is concerned, namely the adoption of purity criteria, the Joint Committee is informed that these will not present any difficulty for Irish manufacturers.

6. Colza and Rape Seed

The Commission proposed an amendment of Regulation No. 657/75/EEC so as to fix a lower standard oil content for colza and rape seed which would qualify for intervention (R/1736/75). The proposal has no significance for this country as no colza or rape seed is grown here but as its purpose is to produce products having a low erucic acid content, it is related to the proposal for a Directive dealt with hereunder.

7. Erucic Acid in Fats, Oil and Margarine

The Joint Committee has examined the proposal for a Directive fixing the maximum level of erucic acid in fats, oil and margarine intended for human consumption (R/1736/75).

The Joint Committee is informed that the standards being proposed are not likely to have any significant effect on trade in this country.

(Signed) CHARLES J. HAUGHEY,

Chairman of the Joint Committee.

11th December, 1975.