L 144/14 Official Journal of the European Union 4.6.2008 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 492/2008 of 3 June 2008 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of monosodium glutamate 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 Community (') (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE 1.1. Initiation On 5 September 2007, the Commission announced, by a notice (notice of initiation) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of monosodium glutamate (MSG) orig- inating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC or country concerned). The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged on 23 July 2007 by Ajinomoto Foods Europe SAS representing 100 % of the total Community production of MSG. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury suffered by the sole Community producer resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 1.2. Parties concerned by the proceeding The Commission officially advised the complainant, the exporting producers, importers, suppliers and users known to be concerned, and representatives of the countries concerned of the initiation of the proceeding. () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (O] L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17). () O] C 206, 5.9.2007, p. 20. Interested parties were given an opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the notice of initiation. The complainant, exporting producers, importers, supplier associations and users made their views known. All interested parties, who so requested and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard, were granted a hearing. In the notice of initiation, the Commission indicated that in view of the apparent large number of exporting producers in the PRC and importers in the Community, sampling may be applied in this investi- gation. However, given the lower than expected number of exporting producers in the PRC and importers in the Community which indicated their will- ingness to cooperate, it was decided that sampling was not necessary. In order to allow exporting producers in the PRC to submit a claim for market economy treatment (MET) or individual treatment (IT), if they so wished, the Commission sent claim forms to the exporting producers known to be concerned and the authorities of the PRC. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and to all the other companies that made themselves known within the deadlines set out in the notice of initiation, namely to the sole Community producer, 22 importers and 27 users of the product concerned as well as two raw materials suppliers. Replies were received from the complainant Community producer, three unrelated importers, four users, and two suppliers. With regard to the country concerned by this investi- gation, the Commission received replies from three exporting producers in the PRC.