L 202/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 18.7.98 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1556/98 of 17 July 1998 imposing a provisional countervailing duty on imports of stainless steel bars originating in India and amending Regulation (EC) No 1084/98 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel bars originating in THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 of 6 October 1997 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community ('), and in particular Article 12 thereof, 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 905/98 (°), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1) In October 1997 the Commission announced by a notice (hereinafter referred to as ‘notice of initia- tion’) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (*) the initiation of an anti- subsidy proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of stainless steel bars (hereinafter referred to as ‘SSB’) originating in India and commenced an investigation. (20  The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged by the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (Eurofer) on behalf of Community producers representing a major proportion of the Community production of SSB. The complaint contained evidence of subsidisation of the said product, and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. (3  The Commission officially advised the Community producers, exporting producers and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting country and the complainant of the initiation of the proceeding; it gave the parties concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. The Government of India, a number of exporting producers in India as well as some producers, importers and suppliers in the Community made () OJ L 288, 21. 10. 1997, p. 1. () OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. () OJ L 128, 30. 4. 1998, p. 18. ( OJ C 328, 30. 10. 1997, p. 16. their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the time limits set in the notice of initiation were granted a hearing. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and received replies from the Government of India and a number of com- panies in the Community and India. The Commission sought and verified all the in- formation it deemed necessary for the purpose of a preliminary determination of subsidisation and injury, and carried out investigations at the prem- ises of the following companies: (a) Community producers — Cogne Acciai Speciali Srl, Aosta, Italy, — Krupp Edelstahlprofile GmbH, Siegen, Germany, — Rodacciai Spa, Bosisio Parrini, Italy, — Sprint Metal Edelstahlziehereien GmbH, Hemer, Germany, — Trafilerie Bedini Srl, Peschiera Borromeo, Italy, — Ugine-Savoie SA, Ugine, France. During the verification visit to Rodacciai Spa the company withdrew its cooperation and consequently the information provided by this company could not be taken into account for the investigation. (b) Government of India — Ministry of Commerce, New Delhi, — Undersecretariat for Customs, New Delhi, — Ministry of Finance, New Delhi. (c) Exporting producers in India — Bhansali Bright Bars Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, — Facor (Ferro Alloys Corp. Ltd), Nagpur, — Grand Foundry Ltd, Mumbai, — Isibars Ltd, Mumbai, — Mukand Ltd, Mumbai, — Panchmahal Steel Ltd, Baroda, — Raajratna Metal Industries Ltd, Ahmedabad, — Venus Wire Industries Ltd, Mumbai, — Viraj Alloys Ltd, Mumbai.