No L 166/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 7. 88 COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1857/88 of 30 June 1988 instituting a system for the authorization of impots into France of footwear originating in South Korea or Taiwan THE COMMISSION QF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, ) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European - Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 288/82 of " 5 February 1982 on common rules for imports (), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1243/86 (), and in particular Article 15 (1) thereof, * After consultations within the Advisory Committee set up by the above Regulation, Whereas : O @ &) @ A. Procedure On 28 August 1987 the French authorities informed the Commission that imports into France of footwear originating in South Korea or Taiwan had increased and were continuing to increase in such quantities and in such manner that there was, or threatened to be, serious injury to the national industry. The French request was supported by evidence regarding the trend of imports and the terms on which they were taking -place, in particular concerning prices. Information had also been supplied regarding the effects of such imports on the footwear industry. Having decided, after consultations, that the evidence in its possession was sufficient to justify an investigaion, the Commission accordingly announced, in a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(’), the initiation of a Community investigation in respect of imports into France of the products concerned originating in South Korea or Taiwan, and commenced the investigation. The Commission officially informed the producers and importers known to be concerned and gave all interested parties the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing. Arguments were presented on behalf of the French producers by the Fédération Nationale de () OJ No L 35, 9. 2. 1982, p. 1. ) OJ No L 113, 30. 4. 1986, p. 1. () OJ No C 274, 13. 10. 1987, p. 3. O ® @ ® I'Industrie de la chaussure de France and by the European Confederation of the Footwear Industries (CEC). Information was also supplied by French importers. ' In the course of its investigation, the Commission endeavoured to gather and verify all the information it considered necessary. It carried out on-the-spot checks. The Commission selected the following producers as being most representative of the various types of footwear imported. French producers — Adidas, Dettwiller — Bata, Moussey-Bataville — Bopy SA, Beaupreau — Cadet-Roussel, Merignac — GEP — Groupe Pasquier SA, Montfaucon — Hoki, Ingwiller — Imbert, Miramont de Guiyenne — Labelle SARL, Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray " — Ets Maudouit, Blanquefort — Ets Norbert Moche, La Ferté Macé — Chaussures Noel, Vitre — Patrick International SA, Pouzauges — Ets Rondinaud, La Rochefoucauld — Virona, La Verrie French importers — Chauss Europ SA, Le Havre — Nike France, Cergy-Pontoise — Netter & Cie, Paris The reference period for price comparisons was 1 January to 3t December 1987. B. Products and industries concerned The investigation concerns footwear articles falling within Common Customs Tariff heading Nos 64.01 to 64.04 and specifically those corresponding to NIMEXE codes 64.01-11 to 64.04-90 and CN codes 6401 10 to 6405 90 90. The Commission examined whether it was appropriate, in order to determine the impact on French industry of imports of footwear originating in South Korea or Taiwan — which includes a high proportion of leisure and sports footwear — to classify footwear in distinct categories and to -