No L 88/42 Official Journal of the European Communities. 2. 4. 81 COMMISSION DECISION of 16 March 1981 setting up, within the Advisory Committee on Seeds, a Special Section on the approximation of laws (81/19S/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Whereas it is essential that the Commission should obtain the opinions of trade and professional interests and of consumers on the problems of approximating laws on seeds ; Whereas the Economic and Social Committee stated in a report issued on 24 May 1972 that it would be highly desirable that an Advisory Committee, similar to those existing in the context of the organization of agricultural markets, be set up, alongside the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs and the Standing Veterinary Committee, consisting of representatives of the various economic and social interests concerned ; Whereas all the trade and professional interests directly affected by the approximation of laws on seeds, and also consumers, should have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of opinions requested by the Commission ; Whereas the professional and trade associations concerned with the sector, workers’ organizations and also the consumer associations in the Member States have established organizations at Community level, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 1.  The Commission hereby establishes, within the Advisory Committee on Seeds, a Special Section on the approximation of laws, hereinafter called ‘the Section’. 2. The Section shall report the outcome of its proceedings to the Committee. 3. The Section shall consist of representatives of organizations concerned with agriculture, producers, growers, merchants and distributors of seeds and propagating material for agriculture, horticulture and forestry, workers and consumers. Article 2 1. The Section may be consulted by the Commis- sion on any problems concerning the approximation of laws on seeds and propagating material for agri- culture, horticulture and forestry. 2. The chairman of the Section may indicate to the Commission the desirability of it consulting the Section on any matter within the latter’s competence on which its opinion has not been sought. The chairman shall also do so at the request of any one of the interest groups represented in the Section. Article 3 1. The Section shall consist of 11 permanent members and a maximum of 24 non-permanent members. 2. The permanent members shall be responsible for coordinating their group’s work. 3. Seats for permanent members shall be allocated as follows : — two to agricultural producers, — two to agricultural cooperatives, — three to producers, growers, merchants and dis- tributors of seeds and propagating material for agri- culture, horticulture and forestry, — two to workers, — two tO consumers. 4. The interest groups listed in paragraph 3 may each appoint a maximum of four non-permanent members, except the seed producers, growers, merchants and distributors, who may appoint a maximum of eight non-permanent members. Article 4 1. The permanent members of the Section shall be appointed by the Commission upon proposals from the following bodies : agricultural producers . the Committee of Agricultural Organizations in the European Economic Community (COPA)