L 252/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 9. 97 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1778/97 of 12 September 1997 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of ferro-silico-manganese 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 Commun- ity ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2331/96 (%), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE (1) On 17 December 1996, the Commission announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (}), the initi- ation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the European Community of ferro- silico-manganese originating in the People’s Re- public of China; it commenced an investigation. (2)  The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged on 7 November 1996 by Euroal- liages, the liaison committee of the European ferro- alloy industry, on behalf of producers representing a major proportion of total Community output of the product concerned. (3)  The Commission officially advised the producers, exporters and importers known to be concerned, as well as the representatives of the exporting country and the complainant, of the opening of the pro- ceeding, and gave interested parties the opportunity to make their views known and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the notice of initiation. (4 A number of producers and traders in the People’s Republic of China and in Hong Kong, as well as some Community producers, importers and a consumer association made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the 1 () OJ L 56, 6. 3. 199, p. 1. () O] L 317, 6. 12. 1996, p. 1. () O C 381, 17. 12. 1996, p. 4. (6) ™ time limits laid down in the notice of initiation were granted a hearing. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and received replies from Community producers and importers, as well as from producers and traders in the People’s Re- public of China, Hong Kong and the reference country (Brazil). The Commission sought and verified all the in- formation it deemed necessary for the purpose of a preliminary determination of dumping, injury and Community interest, and carried out verifications at the premises of the following companies: (a) Community producers: — Sadaci SA, Belgium, — Dunkerque  Electrometallurgie France, (DEM), — PFerroatlantica SA, Spain, — Hidro-Nitro SA, Spain, — Fornileghe SpA, Italy, — Italghisa SpA, Italy, — Elletrosiderurgica Italiana SpA, Italy; (b) importers not related to exporters: — Thyssen Sonnenberg Metallurgie GmbH, Germany; (c) importers related to exporters: — Tinfos  Jernverk Deutschland GmbH, Germany; (d) traders in Hong Kong: — Glory Profit Development Ltd, Hong Kong, — Noble Resources Ltd, Hong Kong, — Perfect Billion International Ltd, Hong Kong; (e) producers located in the reference country: — Companhia Paulista de Ferro-Ligas, Brazil, — Sibra Electrosiderurgica Brasiliera SA, Brazil. The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 January to 30 September 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘investigation period’). The exam- ination of injury covered the period from 1993 to 1996.