29.2.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 55/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 449/2000 of 28 February 2000 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of malleable cast iron tube or pipe fittings originating in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Japan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and Thailand and accepting an undertaking offered by an exporting producer in the Czech Republic 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 (3, and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE 1.1. Initiation (1)  On 29 May 1999, the Commission announced by a notice (hereinafter referred to as ‘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 malleable cast iron tube or pipe fittings originating in Brazil, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (hereinafter referred to as ‘Yugoslavia’), Japan, the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as ‘China’), the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ‘Korea’) and Thailand. (2)  The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged in April 1999 by the Defence Committee of Malleable Cast Iron Tube or Pipe Fittings Industry of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘complainant)) on behalf of producers representing 100 % of the Community production of malleable cast iron tube or pipe fittings. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. (3)  The Commission officially advised the exporting produ- cers and importers/traders known to be concerned as well as their associations, the representatives of the exporting countries concerned and the complainant, about 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 A number of exporting producers in the countries concerned, as well as Community producers, Community users and importers/traders made their () O] L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. () O] L 128, 30.4.1998, p. 18. () O] C 151, 29.5.1999, p. 21. views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the above time limit and indicated that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted the opportunity to be heard. The Commission sent questionnaires to parties known to be concerned and to all the other companies which made themselves known within the deadlines set out in the Notice of Initiation. Replies were received from six Community producers, 11 exporting producers in the countries concerned, as well as from their related impor- ters in the Community. The Commission also received replies from 17 wunrelated importers/traders in the Community as well as from two users. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the following companies: (a) Community producers — Georg Fischer GmbH, Austria — R. Woeste Co GmbH & Co. KG, Germany — Ferriere a Fonderie Di Dongo S.P.A., Italy — Raccordi Pozzi Spoleto SpA, Italy — Accesorios de Tuberia, SA, Spain — Crane Fluid System, United Kingdom (b) Unrelated importers in the Community — SIRE SA, France — Sofreco, France — Hage Fittings GmbH & Co KG, Germany — Hermann Schmidt, Germany — Intersantherm, Warenhandelsgesellschaft mbH, Germany — ‘Invest’ Import und Export GmbH, Germany — Euraccordi, Italy — GT Comis SpA, Italy — Jannone Arm SpA, Italy — Jannone SpA, Italy — OML SRL, Italy — Gill & Russell Ltd, United Kingdom — T. Hackett & Sons Ltd, United Kingdom (c) Users — Societa Italiana per il Gas, Italy — Transco BG plc, United Kingdom (d) Exporting producers — Brazil — IndGstria de Fundicio Tupy Ltda, Joinville