In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would be necessary and if so, to select a sample, exporters/producers in the USA were asked to make themselves known to the Commission within 15 days from the date of the initiation of the investigation and to provide, as specified in the notice of initiation, basic information on their activities related to bioethanol during the period from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011 ('the investigation period' or 'the IP').
Et komisjonil oleks võimalik otsustada, kas väljavõtteline uuring on vajalik, ning selle vajalikkuse korral valim moodustada, paluti USAs asuvatel eksportijatel/tootjatel alates uurimise algatamisest 15 päeva jooksul endast komisjonile teada anda ning esitada algatamisteates märgitud põhiandmed bioetanooliga seotud tegevuse kohta, mis leidis aset ajavahemikus 1. oktoobrist 2010 kuni 30. septembrini 2011 (edaspidi „uurimisperiood”).