17. 12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 346/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2513/97 of 15 December 1997 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1490/96 on polyester staple fibre originating in Belarus to imports of polyester filament tow from Belarus and levying the extended duty on the latter imports as registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 693/97 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Coucil 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 Article 13 (3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commis- sion after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE On 19 April 1997, by Regulation (EC) No 693/97 (3, the Commission initiated an investi- gation, pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, hereafter referred to as the ‘Basic Regu- lation’, concerning the alleged circumvention of the anti-dumping duties imposed by Council Regu- lation (EC) No 1490/96 (°) on imports of polyester staple fibre, hereafter ‘PSF’, originating in Belarus, by imports of polyester filament tow, hereafter ‘PFT’, originating in that country which are subse- quently converted into PSF in the Community and directed customs authorities, pursuant to Article 13 (3) of the Basic Regulation, to register imports of such PFT. The present investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged on 4 March 1997 by the International Committee of Rayon and (") OJ L 36, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 2331/96 (OJ L 317, 6. 12. 1996, p. 1). () OJ L 102, 19. 4. 1997, p. 14. () OJ L 189, 30. 7. 1996, p. 13. @) ©) Synthetic Fibres (CILF.R.S) on behalf of Com- munity producers whose output is considered to represent over 90 % of the total Community production of PSEF. The product concerned by the present investigation is PFT, falling under CN code 5501 20 00, used for conversion in the Community into PSF, falling under CN code 5503 20 00. The Commission officially advised the authorities of Belarus about the initiation of the new investiga- tion and sent questionnaires to the Community companies concerned mentioned in the complaint. No additional companies made themselves known within the prescribed time limit. The new investigation covered the period 1 January 1996 to 31 March 1997 (hereafter ‘the investigation period’). The Commission received complete replies from the following companies: (a) Germany — Barnet Europe W. Barnet GmbH & Co. KG, — Rheinische Faser GmbH, — Kemokomplex GmbH; (b) Italy — SALT & Co. Snc, — TASFI Snc, — SIMP Srl (formerly CO.FLS SpA). The Commission requested and examined all infor- mation it deemed necessary and carried out verifi- cation visits at the premises of the companies located in Italy and of one company located in Germany (Barnet).