G/SG/N/6/TUR/23  
 
3 May 2017  
(17-2408) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 12.1(A) OF TH E AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INI TIATION OF AN INVEST IGATION  
AND THE REASONS FOR IT 
TURKEY 
(Toothbrushes)  
The following communication, dated 3 May 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Turkey . 
 
_______________  
 
 
The Republic of Turkey hereby notifies the Committee on Safeguards, pursuant to Article 12.1(a) 
of the Agreement on Safeguards on initiation of a safeguard investigation on imports of 
toothbrushes.  
 
1. The date when the investigation was initiated  
The investigation was initiated on 22/4/2017. The related Communiqué with the number 2017/2 
was published in the Official Gazette on the same date.  
 
2. The product subject to the investigation  
The product under investigation is hereinafter  referred  to as "toothbrushes".  
 
Toothbrushes  are currently classified in the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule under the customs 
tariff codes 9603.21.00.00.00 .  
 
3. The reasons for the initiation of investigation  
The investigation was initiated upon an evaluation of a safeguard petition from the domestic 
industry and on the basis of the evidence and the information contained therein.  
 
The information currently available indicates that there has been an increase in imports of 
toothbrushes both in absolute terms and relat ive to domestic production.  
 
The information currently available shows a situation of decreasing trend in profitability, and a 
declining market share for domestic industry while there is an increase in inventory. Furthermore, 
while consumption is increasin g, production and domestic sales have increased barely.  
 
The non -confidential summary of the application is available at the internet address below.  
 
http://www.ekonomi.gov.tr/portal/url/buk   
 
4. Furthe r information  
Those who fill out and send "Application Form for the Interested Party" (application form) to the 
competent authority within the period of 20 days after the promulgation of the related G/SG/N/6/TUR/23  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Communiqué are accepted as interested parties in the inve stigation. The application form is 
available at the internet address cited in Article 3.  
 
The investigating authority shall provide a username and a password to each interested party. The 
username shall be the e -mail address specified in the application fo rm. The interested parties are 
required to fill out the "Online Questionnaire for the Interested Party" (online questionnaire) by 
logging in to http://ithkorunma.ekonomi.gov.tr  webpage with the username and password 
provided by the investigating authority, within the period of 30 days after the initiation of the 
investigation. Interested parties may ask for technical assistance from the investigating authority 
while filling out the online questionnaire.  
 
Interested parties may state, in the application form, their request to be heard by the investigating 
authority. The date and venue of the hearing and other information regarding the investigation will 
also be announced internet address cited in Article 3.  
 
The address of the investigating authority for correspondence is:  
 
 
Ministry of Economy  
Directorate General for Imports, Department of Safeguards  
Söğütözü Mah. 2176. Sk. No: 63 06530 Çankaya/Ankara/TURKEY  
Tel: +90 312 204 99 45 / +90 312 204 99 43  
Fax: +90 312 204 86 33  
E-mail: korunma@ekonomi.gov.tr  
 
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