4.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 661 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 397/2004 of 2 March 2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of cotton-type bed linen originating in Pakistan THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (!) (basic Regulation’), and in particular Article 9 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation (1)  On 18 December 2002 the Commission announced by a notice (notice of initiation’) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of bed linen of cotton fibres, pure or mixed with man-made fibres or flax (flax not being the dominant fibre), bleached, dyed or printed (‘cotton-type bed linen’ or ‘bed linen’) originating in Pakistan (?). The proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged in November 2002 by the Committee of the Cotton and Allied Textile Industries of the European Communities (Eurocoton’ or ‘the complainant) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion of the total Community production of cotton-type bed linen. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding. (") OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002 (O] L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 1). () OJ C 316, 18.12.2002, p. 6. 3) The Commission officially advised the exporting produ- cers and importers known to be concerned as well as their associations, the representatives of the exporting country concerned, the complainant Community produ- cers, known associations of producers, as well as known users, of the initiation of the proceeding. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limits set in the notice of initiation. A number of exporting producers in the country concerned, as well as Community producers, Com- munity users and importers made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the above time limits and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted the opportunity to be heard. It was submitted that more than 45 days have lapsed between the lodging date and the initiation date. Pursuant to the Article 5(1) of the basic Regulation, a complaint shall be deemed to have been lodged on the first working day following its delivery to the Commis- sion by registered mail or the issuing of an acknowledge- ment of receipt by the Commission. The issuing of the acknowledgement of receipt took place on Thursday, 31 October 2002. Considering that Friday, 1 November was a public holiday, the first working day following the issuing of the acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission was Monday, 4 November 2002. Therefore, 4 November 2002 must be considered as the lodging date of the complaint. The notice of initiation has been published on 18 December 2002, which is clearly within 45 days of the lodging of the complaint. Consequently, the notice of initiation was published within the deadline specified in Article 5(9) of the basic Regulation. 2. Sampling Exporters/producers In view of the large number of exporting producers involved in this proceeding, the Commission decided that it could be necessary to apply sampling techniques in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.