L 165/4 Official Journal of the European Union 26.6.2012 COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 541/2012 of 21 June 2012 terminating the interim review of the anti-dumping measures concerning imports of furfuraldehyde originating in the People’s Republic of China and repealing those measures 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 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 and Article 11(3), (5) and (6) thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the European Commission (‘Commission’) after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Measures in force (1) In 1995, the Council imposed by Regulation (EC) No 95/95 (3) a definitive anti-dumping duty in the form of a specific duty on imports of furfuraldehyde originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC or ‘the country concerned) (‘the original anti-dumping measures). The specific duty rate was set at EUR 352 per tonne. Following an interim review initiated in May 1997 upon the request of a Chinese exporter, the measures were maintained by Council Regulation (EC) No 2722/1999 (}) for a further period of four years. In April 2005, following an expiry review, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 639/2005 (¥, extended the measures for a further period of five years. In May 2011, following a further expiry review, the Council, by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 453/2011 (%), extended the measures for a further period of five years. The specific duty rate was set at the same level as in the original anti-dumping measures, i.e. EUR 352 per tonne. 2. Initiation of an interim review Recital 84 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 453/2011 states that the Council considered it appro- priate to assess if the level of the duty was still relevant, given that the specific duty had been established on the basis of the findings of the original investigation 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51. 15, 21.1.1995, p. 11. 107, 28.4.2005, p. 1. 123, 12.5.2011, p. 1. () O] L () O] L () OJ L 328, 22.12.1999, p. 1. () O] L () O L (10) (11) in 1995 and never revised. The Commission would therefore consider the ex officio initiation of an interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation. Having determined that the Commission had at its disposal sufficient prima facie evidence for the initiation of an ex officio interim review, and after consulting the Advisory Committee, the Commission announced on 5 July 2011, in a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union (°) (‘the notice of initiation’), the initiation of an interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation. 3. Investigation 3.1. Investigation period The investigation concerning dumping covered the period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 (‘the review investigation period’ or ‘RIP’). The examination of the trends relevant for the assessment of injury covered the period from 1 January 2008 to the end of the review investigation period (‘the period considered). 3.2. Parties concerned by this investigation The Commission officially advised the Union industry, exporting producers in the country concerned, importers, users known to be concerned, and the authorities of the country concerned of the initiation of the interim review. 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. 3.3. Sampling for exporting producers in the People’s Republic of China In view of the apparent large number of exporting producers in the PRC, it was considered appropriate to examine whether sampling should be used, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation. In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would be necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the exporting producers in the PRC were requested to make themselves known within 15 days of the initiation of the review and to provide the Commission with the information requested in the notice of initiation. Given that no exporting producers came forward to cooperate, sampling was therefore not necessary. 3.4. Questionnaire replies and verifications The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned. No other parties made themselves known within the deadlines set in the notice of initiation. () 0] C 196, 5.7.2011, p. 9.