19.5.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 182/23 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 992/2004 of 17 May 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3068/92 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of potassium chloride originating in Belarus, Russia or Ukraine 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 ('), (‘the basic Regulation’), and in particular Articles 8, 11(3), 21 and 22(c) thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Measures in force (1) By Regulation (EC) No 969/2000(?) the Council amended and extended the measures imposed by Regu- lation (EC) No 3068/92(®), on imports into the Community of potassium chloride (the product concerned’) originating in the Republic of Belarus (Belarus’), the Russian Federation (Russia’) and Ukraine. (2)  The measures are fixed duty amounts, established by category and grade of product, ranging from EUR/ tonne 19,51 to EUR[tonne 48,19 in the case of Belarus, EUR/tonne 19,61 to EUR/tonne 40,63 in the case of Russia and EURJtonne 19,61 to EUR/tonne 48,19 in the case of Ukraine. 2. Investigation (3)  On 20 March 2004 the Commission announced through the publication of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (*) the initiation of a partial interim review of the measures in force (the measures) pursuant to Articles 11(3) and 22(c) of the basic Regu- lation. (4 The review was launched at the initiative of the Commission in order to examine whether, as a conse- quence of the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004 (‘enlargement’) and, bearing in mind the aspect of Community interest, there is a need to adapt the measures in order to avoid a sudden and excessively negative effect on all interested parties including users, distributors and consumers. (*) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12). (@ O] L 112, 11.5.2000, p. 4. (®) OJ L 308, 24.10.1992, p. 41. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 969/2000. () O] C 70, 20.3.2004, p. 15. 3. Parties concerned by the investigation All interested parties known to the Commission, including the Community industry, associations of producers or users in the Community, exporters| producers in the countries concerned, importers and their associations and the relevant authorities of the countries concerned as well as interested parties in the ten new Member States which acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004 (the EU10’) were advised of the initiation of the investigation and were given the oppor- tunity to make their views known in writing, to submit information and to provide supporting evidence within the time limit set out in the notice of initiation. All interested parties who so requested and showed that there were reasons why they should be heard were granted a hearing. In this regard, the following interested parties made their views known: (a) Community producers Association: European Association of Potash Producers (b) Exporting producers: Production Amalgamation Belaruskali, Soligorsk, Belarus JSC Silvinit, Solikamsk, Russia JSC Uralkali, Berezniki, Russia (c) Exporter: IPC, Moscow, Russia (related to JSC Silvinit and Production Amalgamation Belaruskali). B. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION The product concerned is potassium chloride (potash, KCl) and is generally used as agricultural fertiliser, directly, blended with other fertilisers or after transfor- mation into a complex fertiliser known as NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). The potassium content is variable and is expressed as a percentage of the weight of potassium oxide (K,0) on the dry anhydrous product. It is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of certain industrial and pharmaceutical products.