5.9.97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 243/17 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1732/97 of 4 September 1997 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts originating in the People’s Republic of China, India, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Thailand 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 Com- munity ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2331/96 (3, and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE (1)  In December 1996, the Commission announced by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(*) the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of stainless steel fasteners and parts originating in the People’s Republic of China (hereafter ‘the PRC’), India, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea (hereafter ‘Korea’) and Taiwan, and commenced an investigation. In January 1997, the Commission announced by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(*) the extension of the proceeding to imports from Thailand. () The proceeding was initiated and subsequently extended as a result of two complaints lodged by the European Industrial Fasteners Institute (EIFI), on behalf of Community producers representing a major proportion of the Community production of stainless steel fasteners. The complaints 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 producers/ exporters and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting countries and the complainants, of the initiation of the proceed- ing; it gave the parties directly concerned the 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. 317, 6. 12. 1996, p. 1. 369, 7. 12. 1996, p. 3. 25, 25. 1. 1997, p. 9. A oo (6) opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and received replies from the complaining Community producers, from four companies in India, from two companies in Malaysia, from one company in Korea, from seven companies in Taiwan, from three companies in Thailand, from six companies in the PRC, from one company in Hong Kong exporting products originating in the PRC, from one company in Brazil (originally envisaged as analogue country) and from one Community importer related to one Malaysian company. The Commission received also complete replies from two unrelated importers in the Community. The Commission verified all the information it deemed necessary for the purpose of a preliminary determination and carried out investigations at the premises of the following companies: Community producers — Bulnava srl, Milano (Italy) — Inox Viti snc di Cattinori Enrico e Bruno, Grumello Del Monte (Italy) — Tevi srl (Trafilerie e Viterie Italiane srl), Ponte Dell'Olio (Italy) — Tornilleria del Besos SA (Torbesa), Barcelona (Spain) — Ugivis SA, Belley (France) Producers/exporters and companies related to them in the exporting countries India — Audler Fasteners, Vasai — Lakshmi Precision Screws Ltd, Rohtak — Kundan Industries Ltd, Vasai — Tata Exports Ltd, Bombay Malaysia " — Tigges Steel Fasteners (M) Sdn. Bhd. Ipoh — Tong Heer Fasteners Co., Sdn. Bhd, Penang Korea — Daegil Trading Co. Ltd, Seoul