52000AC0084

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure of biological agents at work (Seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)"

(2000/C 75/06)

On 21 October 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion unanimously on 16 December 1999. The rapporteur was Mr Thomas Etty.

At its 369th plenary session of 26 and 27 January 2000 (meeting of 26 January), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 122 votes in favour, no votes against, and with five abstentions.

1. The Committee agrees in general terms with the Commission that it is important to simplify and clarify Community law, without affecting the level of protection. This is certainly desirable in the area of occupational safety and health legislation where the architecture of existing instruments has become, in some cases, very complicated.

2. It notes that the purpose of the consolidation operation will not involve changes of substance to the present legislation.

3. The Committee also notes that the Commission's decision of 1 April 1987 states that all legislation measures should be consolidated after no more than ten amendments (as a minimum requirement). The Directive on protection of workers from biological agents of 1990 has been amended four times in 1993, 1995, 1997 and again in 1997.

4. The Committee fully agrees with the present proposal.

5. Finally, the Committee refers to the five general recommendations regarding codifications of occupational Safety and Health Directives in its Opinion of October 20-21 last on the "Proposal for a Council Directive on the Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure of carcinogens at work (Sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (codified version) (COM(1999) 152 final - 98/0085 SYN)".

Brussels, 26 January 2000.

The President

of theEconomic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli