L 187/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 26.7.2000 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1629/2000 of 25 July 2000 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of ammonium nitrate originating in Poland and Ukraine 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 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 905/98 (3, and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE (1) On 29 October 1999, the Commission announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (°) (the ‘notice of initiation’), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of ammonium nitrate (AN), originating in Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. (2)  The proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged by the European Fertiliser Manufacturers Associa- tion (EFMA) on behalf of companies representing a major proportion of total Community production. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the product concerned and of material injury resulting there- from, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. (3)  The Commission officially advised the complainant Community producers, exporting producers and impor- ters, suppliers and users known to be concerned, as well as associations concerned and representatives of the exporting countries, and the EU-Lithuania and EU- Poland Association Councils of the opening of the proceeding. 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 initia- tion. (4)  The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned. Replies were received from ten complainant Community producers, five exporting producers, one exporter, one importers' association and seven importers in the Community (of which three are related to the exporters). (5)  The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for a provisional determination of dumping, injury and the Community interest and carried () O] L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. () O] L 128, 30.4.1998, p. 18. () O] C 311, 29.10.1999, p. 3. out verifications at the premises of the following compa- nies: (a) Complainant Community producers 1. BASF AG, Limburgerhof, Germany 2. Fertiberia SA, Madrid, Spain 3. Grande Paroisse SA, Paris, France 4, Hydro Agri France, Nanterre, France 5 . Hydro Agri UK Ltd, Immingham, United Kingdom Hydro Agri Sluiskil BV, Sluiskil, the Netherlands Kemira Ince Ltd, Chester, United Kingdom Kemira SA, Wavre, Belgium o 2 N Sefanitro SA, Barakaldo, Spain 10. Terra Nitrogen (UK) Ltd, Stockton on Tees, United Kingdom (b) Exporters/exporting  producers  from the countries concerned 1. JSC Achema, Jonava, Lithuania 2. Anwil SA, Wloclawek, Poland 3. CIECH SA, Warsaw, Poland 4. Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy SA, Pulawy, Poland (c) Importers (a) related to exporting producers 1. Litfert SARL, St Malo, France 2. Scandinavian Chemicals and Fertilisers AB, Malmé, Sweden 3. Daltrade Ltd, London, United Kingdom (b) unrelated to exporting producers 1. Helm  Diingemittel GmbH, Hamburg, Germany 2. UNCAA, Paris, France The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1999 (‘the investigation period’ or ‘IP). This period is longer than one year in order to cover two agricultural seasons and thereby obtain a more representative picture of the market, and in order to include possible changes in the market that occurred after the imposition of a specific duty in 1998, reinforcing the anti-dumping measures concerning imports of AN originating in Russia which had been imposed in 1995. The examination of trends relevant for the injury assessment covered the period from 1995 to the end of the IP.