The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (PES, DK), and agreeing with the parliamentary committee, made some amendments to the common position.
-As regards whole-body vibration, Parliament decided that the limit and action values should correspond to ISO standards which would represent a lower threshold than the values being proposed by the Council.
-Parliament felt that the transitional arrangements planned by the Council were too long. In the light of technical developments, Members were convinced that a five-year transition period would be sufficient for companies to replace their tools and machinery, although within the agricultural and forestry sector a further extension of two years (rather than three years as proposed by the Council) could be permitted, whilst bearing in mind the research in this sector.
-Parliament stated that the final decision on the use of derogations should be taken by Member States after consulting the two sides of industry.