L 33/8 Official Journal of the European Union 5.2.2005 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 206/2005 of 4 February 2005 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of farmed salmon THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of 22 December 1994 on common rules for imports and repealing Regulation (EC) No 518/94 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2474/2000 (%), and in particular Article 16 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) No 3420/83 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 427/2003 (¥, and in particular Article 15 thereof, After consultations within the Advisory Committee established under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and of Regu- lation (EC) No 519/94 respectively, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE (), On 6 February 2004, Ireland and the United Kingdom informed the Commission that trends in imports of farmed Atlantic salmon appeared to call for safeguard measures under Regulations (EC) No 3285/94 and 519/94; submitted information containing the evidence available as determined on the basis of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 519/94; and requested the Commission to take safeguard measures under those instruments. (2)  Ireland and the United Kingdom provided evidence that imports into the European Community of farmed Atlantic salmon are increasing rapidly both in absolute terms, and relative to Community production and consumption. (3)  They alleged that the increase in the volume of imports of farmed Atlantic salmon has, among other conse- quences, had a negative impact on the prices of like or directly competitive products in the Community, and on the market share held by the Community producers, resulting in damage to the Community producers. () O] L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 53. () O] L 286, 11.11.2000, p. 1. () O] L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 89. () O] L 65, 8.3.2003, p. 1. (4)  TIreland and the United Kingdom further advised that, based on the information submitted by the Community producers, any delay in the adoption of safeguard measures by the European Community would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair, and that measures should therefore be adopted as a matter of urgency. (5 The Commission informed all Member States of the situation and consulted with them on the terms and conditions of imports, import trends and the evidence as to serious injury, and the various aspects of the economic and commercial situation with regard to the Community product in question. (6)  On 6 March 2004, the Commission initiated an investi- gation relating to serious injury or threat thereof to the Community producers of the product like or directly competitive with the imported product, which has been defined as farmed salmon, whether or not filleted, fresh, chilled or frozen (the product concerned’) (°) as explained below. The investigation period (IP) is 2003, and the period under examination in the investigation is from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2003. (7)  The Commission officially advised the exporting producers and importers as well as their representative associations known to be concerned, the representatives of exporting countries and the Community producers of the investigation. The Commission sent questionnaires to all these parties, to representative associations of salmon farmers in the Community, and to those parties who made themselves known within the time limits set in the Notice of Initiation. Pursuant to Articles 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 and 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 the Commission also gave parties directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. (8)  On 13 August 2004, the Commission imposed provi- sional safeguard measures. These were referred to the Council under Articles 15(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 and 16(7) of Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and subsequently lapsed on 6 December 2004. () O] C 58, 6.3.2004, p. 7.