17.3.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 80/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 439/2006 of 16 March 2006 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of chamois leather originating in the People’s Republic of China 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), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation On 25 June 2005, the Commission announced by way of a notice (notice of initiation) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of chamois leather originating in the People’s Republic of China (the PRC). The proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged in May 2005 by The British Leather Confederation (the complainant) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 70 %, of the total Community production of chamois leather. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 2. Parties concerned by the proceeding The Commission officially advised the complainant, the Community producers mentioned in the complaint, other known Community producers, the authorities of the PRC, the exporting producers, importers, as well as the associations known to be concerned of the initiation of the investigation. 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. One exporter in the PRC, as well as producers and importers in the Community, made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the above time-limit and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted the opportunity to be heard. In view of the anticipated large number of exporting producers and importers involved in the investigation, the application of sampling techniques was envisaged in the notice of initiation, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation. In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would be necessary and, if so, to select a sample, exporting producers and importers were requested to make themselves known and to provide information as specified in the notice of initiation. No exporting producers came forward to comment on the possible selection of a sample. () 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). () O] C 154, 25.6.2005, p. 12.