28.2.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 55/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 171/2008 of 25 February 2008 maintaining Council Regulation (EC) No 71/97 on the extension of the anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China to imports of certain bicycle parts from 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 Community (') (the basic Regulation), and in particular Articles 9, 11(3) and 13(4) thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Measures in force (1) In September 1993, the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 (3), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty of 30,6 % on imports of bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This duty was increased to 48,5 % by the latest review, by Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005 (*) (the principal measure). (20 In January 1997, following an investigation into the alleged circumvention of the above anti-dumping duty in the form of assembly of bicycles in the Community by using Chinese bicycle parts, the Council, by Regu- lation (EC) No 71/97 (* extended the anti-dumping duty on bicycles originating in the PRC to imports of essential bicycle parts originating in the PRC, pursuant to Article 13 of the basic Regulation (the anti-circumvention measure). The anti-circumvention measure also stipulated that an exemption scheme should be established, in order () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17). () O] L 228, 9.9.1993, p. 1. () O] L 183, 14.7.2005, p. 1. () O] L 16, 18.1.1997, p. 55. to enable assemblers not circumventing the measure on bicycles to import Chinese bicycle parts free of anti- dumping duty, by exempting them from the measure extended to bicycle parts. (3)  In June 1997, the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 88/97 (°) on the authorisation of the exemption of imports of certain bicycle parts originating in the PRC from the above extension, thereby laying down the legal framework for the operation of the exemption scheme (the exemption scheme). (4)  As a result of the above three measures, at present an anti-dumping duty of 48,5% is in force on bicycles originating in the PRC, and this duty is extended to certain bicycle parts originating in the PRC, but Community assemblers not circumventing may be exempted from the latter ie. from the duty on bicycle parts. 2. Grounds for the review (5)  Since the extension of the measures to imports of certain bicycle parts, the Commission has granted exemption from the anti-circumvention measure to a large number of companies based in the Community. The Commission has continued to receive exemption requests, thus the number of parties requesting an exemption has signifi- cantly increased. At the same time, there have been no apparent indications of circumvention practices by companies having been granted an exemption. (6)  Furthermore, the Commission had at its disposal sufficient prima facie evidence that if the anti-circum- vention measure was removed, there would be no conti- nuation or recurrence of circumvention practices. () O] L 17, 21.1.1997, p. 17.