16. 12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 345/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2496/97 of 11 December 1997 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of silicon metal originating in the People’s Republic of China THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 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 ('), and in particular Articles 9, 11 and 23 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commis- sion after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Measures in force (1) By Regulation (EEC) No 2200/90 () the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of silicon metal originating in the People’s Re- public of China hereinafter referred to as ‘China’. Following a complaint lodged by the Community industry and the Commission’s subsequent invest- igation, the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1607/92 (*) concluded that the anti-dumping duty in force had been absorbed, and, by amending Regulation (EEC) No 2200/90, imposed an addi- tional duty on imports of Chinese silicon metal of an amount equal to that of the original duty. 2. Request for a review (2)  Following the publication, in February 1995 of a notice of the impending expiry (*) of the measures in force, the Commission received a request for a review lodged by the Comité de Liaison des Indus- (") OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regula- tion (BEC) No 2331/96 (O) L 317, 6. 12. 1996, p. 1), @ OJ L 198, 28. 7. 1990, p. 7. () OJ L 170, 25. 6. 1992, p. 1. () O] C 35, 11. 2. 1995, p. 3. () ) tries de Ferro-Alliages (CLIFA) on behalf of four Community producers allegedly representing a major proportion of the total production of the product concerned in the Community. The request contained evidence of dumping of the product originating in China, and of material injury likely to result in the event of expiry of the existing measures. This evidence was considered sufficient to justify the opening of a review investigation. On 27 July 1995, the Commission announced by a notice (°) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Notice of Initiation’) the initiation of an expiry review of Regulation (EEC) No 2200/90 concerning imports into the Community of silicon metal ori- ginating in China and commenced an investigation pursuant to Article 11 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 3283/94 (), subsequently repealed and replaced by Regulation (EC) No 384/96, (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Basic Regulation’). The Commission also decided to initiate, on its own initiative, an interim review pursuant to Article 11 (3) of the Basic Regu- lation. 3. Investigation The Commission officially advised the exporting producers and importers known to be concerned as well as their associations, the representatives of the exporting country and the complainant Com- munity producers of the initiation of the review. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the Notice of Initiation. A number of importers and two organ- izations representing the user industry made their views known in writing. Hearings were granted to Community producers and to Chinese exporters which had requested them. C 193, 27. 7. 1995, p. 3. L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1.