4.12.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 310/17 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2563/1999 of 3 December 1999 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of compact discs boxes originating in the People's Republic of China THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 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 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 905/98 (%) and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE On 5 March 1999, the Commission announced, by a notice (hereinafter referred to as ‘the notice of initiation’) published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (%), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of compact discs boxes originating in the People's Republic of China. This proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged in January 1999 by the ‘European Plastics Converters’ (EuPC), on behalf of Community producers representing a major proportion of Community prod- uction of compact discs boxes. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered suff- cient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The Commission officially advised the complainant Community producers, exporting producers and impor- ters, suppliers and users known to be concerned as well as associations concerned and representatives of the exporting country, of the opening of the proceeding. Interested parties were given an opportunity to make their views blown in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the notice of initiation. All parties who so requested were granted a hearing. In order to allow exporting producers in the People's Republic of China to submit a claim for market economy status or individual treatment if they so wished, the Commission sent market economy status| individual treatment claim forms to the Chinese exporting producers known to be concerned. 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. o L 0] L 128, 30.4.1998, p. 18. 0] C 63, 5.3.1999, p. 5. Claims for market economy status were received from four exporting producers, and one exporting producer requested individual treatment only. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned. Replies were received from eight Community producers, three Hong-Kong-based exporting producers with manufacturing facilities in the People's Republic of China and 10 unrelated importers in the Community. The Commission sought and verified all the information it deemed necessary for the purposes of a preliminary determination of dumping, injury and Community interest and carried out verifications at the premises of the following companies: (@) Community producers — La Francaise des Plastiques, Louvigné-de-Bais, France — La Vendéenne des Plastiques, Chantonnay, France — NEPCO SA, Pont - L'Evéque, France — Allainé, SA, Miribel, France — Neoplastik Verpackungssysteme GmbH & Co., Braunschweig, Germany — EPM BV, Helmond, Netherlands — Estudios Gema SA, Barcelona, Spain — White Knight Ltd, Eastbourne, United Kingdom (b) Hong Kong exporting producers with manufacturing facilities in the People's Republic of China — ACME Cassette Manufacturing Ltd, Hong Kong — Golden Age A-V Products Ltd, Hong Kong — Viva Magnetics Limited, Kong Kong (c) Importers/users — AVP Europe BV, Sittard, Netherlands — EMI Compact Disc (Holland) BV, Beek, Nether- lands — H.V. T.R.S. BV, Uden, Netherlands The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 March 1998 until 28 February 1999 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the investigation period’). The examination of injury covered the period from January 1995 to the end of the investigation period.