18.5.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 181/5 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 988/2004 of 17 May 2004 imposing provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of okoumé plywood 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 (') (‘basic Regulation’), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (?), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. INITIATION (1)  On 19 August 2003, the Commission announced by a notice (‘notice of initiation’) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of okoumé plywood originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). (2)  The anti-dumping proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged on 7 July 2003 by the European Federation of the Plywood Industry (FEIC) (the complainant) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 50%, of the Community production of okoumé plywood. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting there from, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 2. PARTIES CONCERNED BY THE PROCEEDING (3) The Commission officially advised the exporting producers in the PRC, importers/traders and their associations, suppliers and users known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting country concerned and the complainant Community producers 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 limit set in the notice of initiation. (4 In view of the large number of Chinese exporting producers listed in the complaint, and the large number of Community producers of the like product, sampling was envisaged in the notice of initiation for the determination of dumping and injury, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation. (5) In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would be necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all exporting producers and Community producers were asked to make themselves known to the Commission and to provide, as specified in the notice of initiation, basic information on their activities related to the product concerned during the investigation period (1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003). (6)  After examination of the information submitted by exporting producers and due to the low number of replies to the sampling questions, it was decided that sampling was not necessary with regard to exporters. (7)  With regard to the Community producers, the Commission selected, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation, a sample based on the largest representative volume of production and sales of the Community industry which could be reasonably investigated within the time available. On the basis of the replies received from the Community producers, the Commission selected five companies in three Member States. The selection was based on both production and sales volume. The sample chosen on the basis of the aforementioned criteria is also representative in terms of geographic coverage. () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. () O] L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12. () O] C 195, 19.8.2003, p. 3.