31.7.2012 [ EN_| Official Journal of the European Union L 20337 COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 699/2012 of 30 July 2012 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel originating in Russia and Turkey 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 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation On 1 November 2011, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union (%) (the notice of initiation’), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports of certain tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel originating in Russia and Turkey (the countries concerned). The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged on 20 September 2011 by the Defence committee of the Steel Butt-Welding Fittings Industry of the European Union (‘the complainants’) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 40 % of the total Union production of certain tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 2. Parties concerned by the proceeding The Commission officially advised the complainants, other known Union producers, the known exporting producers and the representatives of the countries concerned, known importers and users, 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. 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51. 0J L 0] C 320, 1.11.2011, p. 4. (10) (a) Sampling of Union producers In view of the apparent large number of Union producers, sampling was provided for in the notice of initiation for the determination of injury, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation. In the notice of initiation the Commission announced that it had provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. This sample consisted of three companies, out of the 22 Union producers that were known to produce the like product prior to the initiation of the investigation. The sample was selected on the basis of volumes of sales and production that can reasonably be investigated within the time available. The sampled Union producers are based in four Member States and account for 48 % of total Union sales of all Union producers, and for 64 % of the producers who came forward. No interested party opposed to the proposed sample. (b) Sampling of unrelated importers In view of the potentially high number of unrelated importers, sampling was envisaged in the notice of initiation 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, all importers were asked to make themselves known to the Commission and to provide, as specified in the notice of initiation, basic information on their activities related to the product under investi- gation during the investigation period from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011. Of the 38 unrelated importers that the Commission contacted, only 5 companies replied to the sampling questions within the deadline. One company turned out to be a user rather than an importer. Therefore it was considered that no sampling was necessary, and ques- tionnaires were sent to all four importers that came forward. In the end, only two importers replied to the questionnaire and cooperated fully in the investigation. (c) Sampling of exporting producers In view of the apparent high number of exporting producers, sampling was envisaged in the notice of initiation for the determination of dumping, 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, all exporting producers were asked to make themselves known to the Commission and to provide,