52001AE0043

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 80/232/EEC as regards the range of nominal weights for coffee extracts and chicory extracts"

(2001/C 123/06)

On 23 October 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 251 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 10 January 2001. The rapporteur was Mr Liverani.

At its 378th plenary session (meeting of 24 January 2001) the Economic and Social Committee unanimously adopted the following opinion.

The present proposal follows up the obligation undertaken by the Commission to amend Directive 80/232/EEC by adding the mandatory range previously contained in the Directive on coffee extracts and chicory extracts. The aim is to maintain a legal basis in Community law for the range. The range need not be adapted as it is sufficient to ensure free circulation of goods in the sector.

Entry into force will be 20 days after the publication of the Directive. This short period of time is justified because the range is already part of the acquis and therefore has already been implemented by all Member States.

The Committee endorses the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 24 January 2001.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke Frerichs