L 109/12 Official Journal of the European Union 26.4.2007 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 452/2007 of 23 April 2007 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of ironing boards originating in the People’s Republic of China and Ukraine 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. Provisional measures (1) On 30 October 2006, the Commission imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1620/2006 () (the provisional Regu- lation) a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports into the Community of ironing boards originating in the People’s Republic of China and Ukraine (the countries concerned). This Regulation entered into force on 1 November 2006. (2) It is recalled that the investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 (the investigation period or IP). The examination of trends relevant for the injury analysis covered the period from 1 January 2002 to the end of the IP (the period considered). 2. Subsequent procedure (3)  Following the imposition of a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of ironing boards from the countries concerned, all parties received a disclosure of the essential facts and considerations on which the provisional Regu- lation was based (the provisional disclosure). All parties were granted a period within which they could make written and oral representations in relation to this disclosure. () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17). (® O] L 300, 31.10.2006, p. 13. (4) Some interested parties submitted comments in writing. Those parties who so requested were also granted an opportunity to be heard orally. The Commission continued to seek and verify all information it deemed necessary for its definitive findings. All interested parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend the imposition of a definitive anti- dumping duty and the definitive collection of amounts secured by way of the provisional duty (the final disclosure). The interested parties were also granted a period within which they could make representations subsequent to this disclosure. The oral and written comments submitted by the parties were considered and, where appropriate, the findings have been modified accordingly. B. PRODUCT CONCERNED AND LIKE PRODUCT 1. Product concerned It is recalled that, as set out in recital 12 of the pro- visional Regulation, the product concerned by this proceeding is ironing boards, whether or not free- standing, with or without a steam soaking and/or heating top andfor blowing top, including sleeve boards, and essential parts thereof, ie. the legs, the top and the iron rest originating in the People’s Republic of China and Ukraine (the product concerned). One party argued that the ironing boards with a steam soaking and/or heating top and/or blowing top should be excluded from the scope of the measures, since such models are sold at a minimum retail price of EUR 200, whilst the average retail price of an ironing board is EUR 35. It was also argued that the aforesaid models are often sold to the consumer as a package including a steam iron, in which case the average retail price is about EUR 500. As far as the price element is concerned, it is noted that prices per se, and in particular retail prices, are not a factor to be considered when assessing whether or not two or more product types (models) should be considered as one single product for the purpose of an anti-dumping proceeding. It is the basic physical charac- teristics and uses which are considered for this purpose and, to this end, such types are considered similar to those without steam soaking and/or heating top. As far as retail sales of ironing boards together with irons or steam irons are concerned, the investigation established that such retail sales method is occasionally being used for all different types of ironing boards and, in any event, the different prices of the various combinations cannot justify the exclusion of any ironing board type from the product scope of this proceeding.