L 202)2 Official Journal of the European Union 27.7.2013 REGULATIONS COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 721/2013 of 22 July 2013 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 405/2011 imposing a definitive countervailing duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of certain stainless steel bars and rods originating in India THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 of 11 June 2009 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community (') (‘the basic Regulation’), and in particular Article 19 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the European Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE 1.1. Previous investigation and existing counter- vailing measures (1)  In April 2011, by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 405/2011 (3 (the definitive Regulation’), the Council imposed a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain stainless steel bars and rods (‘SSB) currently falling within CN codes 72222021, 722220 29, 722220 31, 72222039, 7222 20 81 and 7222 20 89 and originating in India. The investigation, which led to the adoption of the definitive Regulation, is hereinafter referred to as ‘the original investigation’. (2)  The definitive measures consisted of ad valorem counter- vailing duties, ranging between 3,3 % and 4,3 % imposed on imports from individually named exporters, a 4,0 % duty rate imposed on non-sampled cooperating companies and a residual duty rate of 4,3 % imposed on all other companies in India. 1.2. Initiation of a partial interim review (3) A request for a partial interim review was lodged by Viraj Profiles Vpl. Ltd, an exporting producer located in India (the applicant). The request was limited in scope to the () O] L 188, 18.7.2009, p. 93. OJ L 108, 28.4.2011, p. 3. examination of subsidisation as far as the applicant was concerned. The applicant had provided prima facie evidence that the circumstances with regard to subsidisation on the basis of which measures were imposed had changed significantly and that those changes were of a lasting nature. (4)  Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence existed to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission announced on 9 August 2012, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union () (‘notice of initiation’), the initiation of a partial interim review, in accordance with Article 19 of the basic Regulation, limited to the examination of subsidisation in respect of the applicant. 1.3. Review investigation period (5)  The review investigation of subsidisation covered the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 (‘the review investigation period” or ‘RIP). 1.4. Parties concerned by the investigation (6)  The Commission officially informed the applicant, the Government of India (the GOTI') and Eurofer as the repre- sentative of the Union industry in the original investi- gation (the Union industry’), of the initiation of the partial interim review investigation. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set out in the notice of initiation. (7)  The written and oral comments submitted by the parties at the stage of initiation were considered and, where appropriate, taken into account. (8)  In order to obtain the information necessary for its inves- tigation, the Commission sent a questionnaire to the applicant. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to the GOL () 0] C 239, 9.8.2012, p. 2.