15.7.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L175/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1251/2003 of 14 July 2003 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of hollow sections originating in Turkey 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 ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002 (3, and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, W hereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation On 16 October 2002, the Commission announced, by notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (°), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of hollow sections originating in Russia and Turkey (the countries concerned) and commenced an investigation. The proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged, in September 2002, by the Defence Committee of the Welded Steel Tube Industry (the complainant) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, around 80 %, of the total Community production of hollow sections. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the product concerned and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The Commission officially advised the complaining Community producers, the other known Community producers, importers and users' associations known to be concerned as well as the known exporting producers and the representatives of Russia and Turkey 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. 2. Sampling In view of the large number of Community producers, importers in the Community not related to an exporting producer in one of the countries concerned and of exporting producers in the coun- tries concerned, it was considered appropriate, in conformity with Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (the basic Regulation), to examine whether sampling should be used. In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would indeed be necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all the above parties were requested, pursuant to Article 17(2) of the basic Regulation, to make them- selves known within two weeks of the initiation of the proceeding and to provide the Commission with the information requested in the notice of initiation, for the period from 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002 (the investigation period or IP). 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. oL 0J L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 1. 0] C 249, 16.10.2002, p. 5.