3. 4.9 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 84/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 584/96 of 11 March 1996 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel, originating in the People’s Republic of China, Croatia and Thailand, and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3283/94 of 22 December 1994 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Com- munity (), and in particular Article 23 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or sub- sidized imports from countries not members of the Euro- pean Economic Community(?), and in particular Article 12 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commis- sion after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROVISIONAL MEASURES (). The Commission, by Regulation (EC) No 2318/95 (%), hereinafter referred to as ‘the provi- sional duty Regulation’, imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports into the Commu- nity of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel, originating in the People’s Republic of China, Croatia and Thailand. - By Regulation (EC) No 149/96 (%), the Council extended the validity of this duty for a period of two months expiring on 4 April 1996. () OJ No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p- 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1251/95 (OJ No L 122, 2. 6. 1995, p. 1 ® O)j No L 209, 2. 8. 1988, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 522/94 (O] No L 66, 10. 3. 1954, p. 10). () OJ No L 234, 3. 10. 1995, p. 4. () OJ No L 23, 30. 1. 1996, p. 1. @ @ ©) B. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE Subsequent to the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, the interested parties who so requested were granted an opportunity to be heard by the Commission. Some of these parties also presented written submissions making known their views on the provisional findings. The Commission continued to seek and verify all information it deemed necessary for its definitive findings. Upon request, parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend the impo- sition of a definitive duty and the definitive collec- tion of amounts secured by way of a provisional duty. They were also granted a period within which to make representations subsequent to the disclo- sure. The oral and written comments submitted by the interested parties were examined and, where appro- priate, considered in the Commission’s definitive findings. Owing to the complexity of the investigation and the large volume of data and submissions received from the parties concerned, resulting in numerous requests for extension of deadlines, which were granted by the Commission when justified by the circumstances, the investigation could not be concluded within the period specified in Article 7 (9) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88. C. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND LIKE PRODUCT Having excluded stainless steel fittings from the scope of the proceeding for the reasons stated in recitals 9 and 10 of the provisional duty Regulation,