Where an intermediate product may be stored prior to further processing or primary assembly, a shelf life for the intermediate product shall be defined on the basis of the data resulting from stability studies.

These tests shall always be real-time studies; they shall be carried out on a sufficient number of batches produced according to the described production process and on products stored in the final container(s); these tests include biological and physico-chemical stability tests.

the main objective of the stability programme is to ensure that the present healthy public finance position is maintained in the coming years; in all macroeconomic scenarios the general government accounts register a surplus ranging from 1% to 2 ½ % of GDP in 2002;

The Commission main conclusions are the following: the programme is broadly in line with the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact; the programme presents three macroeconomic scenarios, but all the detailed projections for the public finance aggregates are based on the cautious scenario; in this scenario the government deficit falls to 1% of GDP in 2002; this prudent approach was adopted by the Dutch authorities to ensure sound public finances; a more optimistic scenario, the middle scenario, seems, however, to correspond more to the current consensus: in this scenario the government deficit falls close to balance in 2002; t ...[+++]he fiscal consolidation effort projected from 1999 to 2002 appears to be less ambitious when compared with progress achieved in the years leading up to 1997; the emphasis is shifted further towards reduction in the tax burden as well as increased expenditure aimed at structural improvement; this approach is understandable but needs attentive monitoring by the Dutch authorities; all favourable opportunities should be taken in order further to reinforce the safety margin aimed at preventing the deficit exceeding the Treaty reference value of 3% of GDP, and thus to strengthen the budgetary position of the Netherlands.

Recalling the important role of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia both in terms of the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in terms of stability in the wider region, Ministers urged the governments of these two States to continue to adopt a constructive approach to efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.

On the crucial issue of financing, the Commission stressed that it was necessary to mobilize greater international resources for development assistant programmes in general, and for tropical forest conservation in particular, bearing in mind the special role played by tropical forests in the maintenance of global climatic stability and genetic diversity.