L 270/4 Official Journal of the European Union 29.9.2006 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1425/2006 of 25 September 2006 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain plastic sacks and bags originating in the People’s Republic of China and Thailand, and terminating the proceeding on imports of certain plastic sacks and bags originating in Malaysia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 38496 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (') (the basic Regulation) and in particular Article 9 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. INITIATION On 30 June 2005, pursuant to Article 5 of the basic Regulation, the Commission announced, by a notice (notice of initiation) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of certain plastic sacks and bags originating in the People’s Republic of China (the PRC), Malaysia and Thailand (the countries concerned). The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged on 17 May 2005 by 29 Community producers of plastic sacks and bags, representing a major proportion (in this case more than 25 %) of the total Community production of plastic sacks and bags. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (O] L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17). () 0] C 159, 30.6.2005, p. 19. 2. PARTIES CONCERNED BY THE PROCEEDING The Commission officially advised the complainant Community  producers, their  association, other Community producers, the exporting producers, importers, suppliers and users as well as user associations known to be concerned and the representatives of the exporting countries of the initiation of the proceeding. 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. Given the large number of known exporting producers in the PRC, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as the large number of known Community producers and importers, sampling for the determination of dumping and injury was envisaged in the notice of initiation, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation (see below for further details regarding sampling). In order to allow exporting producers in the PRC to submit a claim for market economy treatment (MET) or individual treatment (IT), if they so wished, the Commission sent claim forms to the exporting producers known to be concerned and to the authorities of the PRC. Some 108 companies and groups requested MET pursuant to Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation. All the companies and groups above also claimed IT should the investigation have established that they did not meet the conditions for MET. Three companies claimed IT only. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and to all other companies that made themselves known within the deadlines set out in the notice of initiation. In addition to questionnaire replies received from parties selected in the samples of exporters, importers and Community industry, replies to question- naires were also received from two Community retailers. A number of parties also made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the set time-limit and indicated that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted a hearing.