L 84/36 Official Journal of the European Union 23.3.2012 DECISIONS COMMISSION DECISION of 22 March 2012 terminating the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in India (2012/163/[EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (') (the ‘basic Regulation’), and in particular Article 9 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: 1. PROCEDURE 1.1. Initiation (1) On 13 May 2011, the European Commission (the Commission’) announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3) (‘notice of initi- ation’), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Union of certain stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in India (the product concerned). (2)  On the same day, the Commission announced by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union (?), the initiation of an anti-subsidy proceeding with regard to imports into the Union of certain stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in India and commenced a separate investigation. (3)  The anti-dumping proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged on 31 March 2011 by the European Industrial Fasteners Institute EiFi (‘the complainant) on behalf of producers representing more than 25 % of the total Union production of certain stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting thereof, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of an investigation. 1.2. Parties concerned by the proceeding (4)  The Commission officially advised the complainant, other known Union producers, the known exporting O] L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51. () O] C 142, 13.5.2011, p. 30. O] C 142, 13.5.2011, p. 36. producers, known importers, users known to be concerned, and the Indian authorities of the initiation of the proceeding. Interested parties were given an opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the notice of initiation. All interested parties, who so requested and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard, were granted a hearing. 1.2.1. Sampling for exporting producers in India In view of the apparent large number of exporting producers in India, sampling was provided for in the notice of initiation for the determination of dumping, in accordance with Article 17(1) 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 in India were requested to make themselves known within 15 days from the date of the initiation of the investigation and to provide basic information on their export and domestic sales, their precise activities with regard to the production and sales of the product concerned and the names and activities of all their related companies involved in the production and sales of the product concerned during the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 (in- vestigation period’ or ‘IP). In total, five exporting producers, including a group of related companies in India, provided the requested information and agreed to be included in the sample within the deadline set in the notice of initiation. These cooperating companies reported exports of the product concerned to the Union during the investigation period. The comparison between Eurostat import data and the volume of exports to the Union of the product concerned reported for the investigation period by the five cooperating companies revealed that the cooperation of Indian exporting producers was close to 100 %. Thus, the sample was chosen on the basis of the information submitted by these five exporting producers. In accordance with Article 17(1) of the basic Regulation, a sample was selected based on the largest representative