L173/14 Official Journal of the European Union 11.7.2003 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1235/2003 of 10 July 2003 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of silicon originating in Russia 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 (*) (the basic Regulation), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002 (%), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE On 12 October 2002, the Commission announced by a notice (notice of initiation) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of silicon originating in Russia. The anti-dumping proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged on 30 August 2002 by Euroalliages (Liaison Committee of the Ferro-Alloy Industry) (the complainant) on behalf of produ- cers representing 100 % of the Community production of silicon. 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. The Commission officially advised the complainant, the exporting producers, importers/traders, suppliers and users, as well as their associations known to be concerned and the representatives of Russia, 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. The complainant, the exporting producers, importers, suppliers and users made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the time limit and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted a hearing. In order to allow exporting producers in Russia to submit a claim for market economy treatment (MET) or individual treatment (IT), the Commission sent claim forms to the three Russian companies listed in the complaint. All three Russian companies requested MET pursuant to Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation or individual treatment, should the investigation establish that they did not meet the conditions for MET. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and to all the other companies that made themselves known within the deadlines set out in the notice of initiation. Replies were received from the complainant Community producers, the cooperating exporting producers, three importers, three suppliers, five users and one users' association. 0J L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. 0J L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 1. 0j C 246, 12.10.2002, p. 12.