52001AE0521

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 90/425/EEC and 92/118/EEC as regards health requirements for animal by-products"

(2001/C 193/07)

On 7 November 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 152(4)(b) of the Treaty establishing the European 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 30 March 2001. The rapporteur was Mr Leif E. Nielsen.

At its 381st plenary session on 25 and 26 April 2001 (meeting of 26 April 2001), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 77 votes to one without any abstentions.

1. Introduction

Following the proposal(1) for a new regulation laying down the health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption, Directives 90/425/EEC and 92/118/EEC must be amended accordingly.

2. General comments

The Committee approves the draft directive as a necessary consequence of the proposed new regulation laying down the health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption.

Brussels, 26 April 2001.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke Frerichs

(1) COM(2000) 574 final.