52000AC1007

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer as regards metered dose inhalers and medical drug pumps"

(2000/C 367/10)

On 28 July 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 175 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Sergio Colombo as rapporteur-general with the task of preparing the Committee's work on the subject.

At its 375th plenary session held on 20 and 21 September 2000 (meeting of 20 September), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 63 votes with two abstentions.

1. The Commission proposal

1.1. This proposal seeks to amend the recently adopted Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer(1) on two specific points. It arises from two inaccuracies that crept into the text of the new Regulation in the final stages of its adoption. The first refers to the export of metered dose inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to developing countries and the second to the export of medical drug pumps containing CFCs. According to the Commission it was not the intention of the Regulation to ban the export of such products that are still needed for health reasons in such countries. Therefore, the Regulation should be amended accordingly.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee approves the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 20 September 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli

(1) This Regulation, the publication of which in the OJ is still awaited, will replace Regulation (EC) No 3093/94.