COMMISSION DECISION
of 10 November 2006
granting certain parties an exemption from the extension to certain bicycle parts of the anti-dumping duty on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93, last maintained and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005, and lifting the suspension of the payment of the anti-dumping duty extended to certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China granted to certain parties pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
(2006/772/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1) (the basic Regulation),
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 71/97 of 10 January 1997 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China to imports of certain bicycle parts from the People’s Republic of China, and levying the extended duty on such imports registered under Regulation (EC) No 703/96 (2) (the extending Regulation), maintained by Council Regulation (EC) No 1524/2000 (3),
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 88/97 of 20 January 1997 on the authorisation of the exemption of imports of certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China from the extension by Council Regulation (EC) No 71/97 of the anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 (4) (the exemption Regulation), maintained by Regulation (EC) No 1524, and in particular Article 7 thereof,
After consulting the Advisory Committee,
Whereas:
(1)
After the entry into force of the exemption Regulation, a number of bicycle assemblers submitted requests pursuant to Article 3 of that Regulation for exemption from the anti-dumping duty as extended to imports of certain bicycle parts from the People’s Republic of China by Regulation (EC) No 71/97 (the extended anti-dumping duty). The Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union successive lists of applicants (5) for which the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty in respect of their imports of essential bicycle parts declared for free circulation was suspended pursuant to Article 5(1) of the exemption Regulation.
(2)
Following the last publication of the list of parties under examination (6), a period of examination has been selected. This period was defined as from 1 January to 31 December 2005. A questionnaire was sent to all parties under examination, requesting information on the assembly operations conducted during the relevant period of examination.
A. REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION FOR WHICH SUSPENSION WAS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED
A.1. Acceptable requests for exemption
(3)
The Commission received from the parties listed in Table 1 below all the information required for the determination of the admissibility of their requests. The information provided was examined and verified, where necessary, at the premises of the parties concerned. Based on this information, the Commission found that the requests submitted by the parties listed in Table 1 are admissible pursuant to Article 4(1) of the exemption Regulation.
Table 1
Name
Address
Country
TARIC additional code
ARKUS & ROMET Group Sp. z o.o.
Podgrodzie 32 C, 39-200 Dębica
Poland
A565
ARKUS Sp. z o.o.
Podgrodzie 32 C, 39-200 Dębica
Poland
A565
Athletic Manufacturing Sp. z.o.o.
ul. Drawska 21, 02-202 Warszawa
Poland
A568
Avantisbike - Fabrico de bicicletas SA
Zona Industrial de Oiã (Sul), Lt. B17, 3770-059 Oiã
Portugal
A726
BELVE s.r.o.
Palkovičova, 5, 915 01 Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Slovak Republic
A535
Bike Mate s.r.o.
Dlhá 248/43, 905 01 Senica
Slovak Republic
A589
Cannondale Europe BV
Hanzepoort 27, 7575 DB Oldenzaal
The Netherlands
A686
CSEKE Trade Kft.
Központi út 21-47., 1211 Budapest
Hungary
A685
C-TRADING s.r.o.
V. Palkovicha 19, 946 03 Kolárovo
Slovak Republic
A662
Decathlon Sp. z o. o.
ul. Malborska 53, 03-286 Warszawa
Poland
A696
Eurobike Kft.
Zengő utca 58., 7693 Pécs-Hird
Hungary
A624
Fabryka Rowerów Romet-Jastrowie Sp. z o.o.
ul. Narutowicza 14, 64-915 Jastrowie
Poland
A564
Firma Wielobranżowa ‘Mexller’ Artur Nowak
ul. Romera 4/20, 42-200 Częstochowa
Poland
A697
Koliken Kft.
Széchenyi u. 103., 6400 Kiskunhalas
Hungary
A616
Koninklijke Gazelle BV
Wilhelminaweg 8, 6951BP Dieren
The Netherlands
8609
Kynast Bike GmbH
Artlandstraße 55, 49610 Quakenbrück
Germany
A692
Manufacture de cycles du Comminges (MCC)
Z.I. Ouest, 31800 Saint-Gaudens
France
A690
Maxbike Ltd
Svatoplukova 2771, 700 30 Ostrava-Vitkovice
Czech Republic
A664
Muller Sport Bohemia s.r.o.
Okružní 110, Hlincova Hora, 373-71 Rudolfov
Czech Republic
A605
OLPRAN Spol. s.r.o.
Libušina, 101, 772-11 Olomouc
Czech Republic
A546
PFIFF Vertriebs GmbH
Wilhelmstraße 49, 49610 Quakenbrück
Germany
A668
TIESSE s.n.c. di Tosato Virginio & C.
Via Meucci 12, 35030 Caselle di Selvazzano Dentro (PD)
Italy
A724
Tolin Przedsiebiorstwo Prywatne Jerzy Topolski
Łęg-Witoszyn, 87-811 Fabianki
Poland
A586
Victus International Trading S.A.
ul. Naramowicka 150, 61-619 Poznań
Poland
A588
Vizija Sport d.o.o.
Tržaška cesta 87 b, 1370 Logatec
Slovenia
A630
(4)
The facts as finally ascertained by the Commission show that for 24 of these applicants’ bicycle assembly operations, the value of the parts originating in the People’s Republic of China which were used in their assembly operations was lower than 60 % of the total value of the parts used in these assembly operations, and they, therefore, fall outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation.
(5)
Concerning the last party, although the facts show that the value of the parts originating in the People’s Republic of China which were used in its assembly operations was above 60 % of the total value of the parts used in the assembly operations, the value added was above 25 % of the manufacturing costs. Therefore the assembly operations of that party fall outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation.
(6)
For these reasons, and in accordance with Article 7(1) of the exemption Regulation, the parties listed in the above table should be exempted from the extended anti-dumping duty.
(7)
In accordance with Article 7(2) of the exemption Regulation, the exemption of the parties listed in Table 1 from the extended anti-dumping duty should take effect as from the date of receipt of their requests. In addition, their customs debt in respect of the extended anti-dumping duty is to be considered void as from the date of receipt of their requests for exemption.
(8)
It is to be noted that the following five parties listed in Table 1 informed the Commission services of a change in their name and/or in their legal seat, or transfer of assembly activity, during the examination period:
-
‘Athletic International Sp. z o.o., ul. Drawska 21, 02-202 Warsaw, Poland’ transferred its assembly activity to ‘Athletic Manufacturing Sp. z o.o., ul. Drawska 21, 02-202 Warsaw, Poland’,
-
‘Avantisbike - Fabrico de bicicletas SA, Rua do Casarão, 3750-869 Borralha, Portugal’ transferred its legal seat to ‘Zona Industrial de Oiã (Sul), Lt. B17, 3770-059 Oiã, Portugal’,
-
‘CSEKE Trade Kft., Gyepsor u. 1., 1211 Budapest, Hungary’ transferred its legal seat to ‘Központi út 21-47., 1211 Budapest, Hungary’,
-
‘Firma Wielobranżowa ART-POL - Artur Nowak, ul. Romera 4/20, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland’ changed its name to ‘Firma Wielobranżowa “Mexller” Artur Nowak, ul. Romera 4/20, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland’,
-
‘PFIFF Vertriebs GmbH, Wilhelmstraße 58, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany’ transferred its legal seat to ‘Wilhelmstraße 49, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany’.
(9)
It has been established that these changes in the name and/or legal seat and transfer of assembly activity did not affect the assembly operations with regard to the stipulations of the exemption Regulation and therefore the Commission does not consider that these changes should affect the exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty.
A.2. Unacceptable requests for exemption and withdrawals
(10)
The parties listed in Table 2 below also submitted requests for exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty.
Table 2
Name
Address
Country
TARIC additional code
A.J. Maias Lda.
Estrada Nacional N.o 1, Malaposta, Apart. 27, 3781-908 Sangalhos
Portugal
A401
Bike Sport
Krzemionka 14, 62-872 Godziesze
Poland
A593
Hermann Hartje KG
Deichstraße 120-122, 27318 Hoya/Weser
Germany
A725
ISTRO-HGA, spol. s.r.o.
Svätopeterská 14, 947 01 Hurbanovo
Slovak Republic
A541
Maver Sp. z o.o.
ul. Przasnysza 77, 06-200 Maków Mazowiecki
Poland
A728
P.W.U.H. Sterna
ul. Lotników 51, 73-102 Stargard Szczeciński
Poland
A631
(11)
Four parties withdrew their request for exemption and informed the Commission accordingly.
(12)
One party failed to submit the requested information required for the examination of its request. For this reason, and in accordance with Article 7(3) of the exemption Regulation, the Commission informed this party that it intended to reject its request for exemption. This party was given an opportunity to comment. No comments were received.
(13)
Another party did not use the bicycle parts for the production or assembly of bicycles during the examination period, nor did it inform the Commission that it destroyed or re-exported them, which constitutes a breach of the obligations set out in Article 6(2) of the exemption Regulation. The party was informed accordingly and given an opportunity to comment. No comments were received.
(14)
Since the parties listed in Table 2 failed to meet the criteria for exemption set by Article 6(2) of the exemption Regulation, the Commission has to reject their requests for exemption, in accordance with Article 7(3) of the Regulation. In the light of this, the suspension of the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty referred to in Article 5 of the exemption Regulation must be lifted and the extended anti-dumping duty must be collected as from the date of receipt of the requests submitted by these parties.
A.3. Request for exemption requiring further examination
(15)
The party listed in Table 3 below also submitted a request for exemption from the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty.
Table 3
Name
Address
Country
TARIC additional code
ROG Kolesa, d.d.
Letališka 29, 1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
A538
(16)
As regards this party, the Commission services were not in a position to verify whether the assembly operations of this party fall outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation due to the bankruptcy procedure of the party instituted by the Bankruptcy Penal Tribunal held by the District Court of Ljubljana.
(17)
In light of the above, the party listed in Table 3 should be maintained in the list of parties under examination. The payment of the anti-dumping duty in respect of the imports of essential bicycle parts declared for free circulation by this party should remain suspended.
B. REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION FOR WHICH SUSPENSION WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY GRANTED
B.1. Inadmissible requests for exemption
(18)
The parties listed in Table 4 also submitted requests for exemption from the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty:
Table 4
Name
Address
Country
Firma Bikeland
ul. 15 Sierpnia 17, 96-500 Sochaczew
Poland
NV 2 Bs
Slagbaan 37, 3052 Blanden
Belgium
NV Simons
Staatsbaan 279, 3460 Bekkevoort
Belgium
(19)
With regard to these parties, it should be noted that their requests did not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Article 4(1) of the exemption Regulation.
(20)
Two applicants use essential bicycle parts for the production or assembly of bicycles in quantities below 300 units per type on a monthly basis.
(21)
One applicant did not provide prima facie evidence that its assembly operations fell outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation, notably prima facie evidence that the value of the parts originating in the People’s Republic of China, which were used in their assembly operations, was lower than 60 % of the total value of the parts used in these assembly operations.
(22)
These parties were informed accordingly and were given an opportunity to comment. No comments were received. As a consequence, no suspension was granted to these parties.
B.2. Admissible requests for exemption for which suspension should be granted
(23)
Interested parties are hereby informed of the receipt of further requests for exemption, pursuant to Article 3 of the exemption Regulation, from parties listed in Table 5. The suspension from the extended duty, following these requests, should take effect as shown in the column headed ‘Date of effect’:
Table 5
Name
Address
Country
Suspension pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
Date of effect
TARIC additional code
Alubike - Bicicletas, SA
Zona Industrial de Oiã, Lote C10, 3770-059 Oliveira do Bairro
Portugal
Article 5
12.12.2005
A730
Bonaventure BVBA
Stoomtuigstraat 16, 8830 Hooglede-Gits
Belgium
Article 5
19.1.2006
A732
Goldbike - Indústria de Bicicletas, Lda
Rua das Flores, s/n, Poutena, 3780-594 Vilarinho do Bairro Anadia
Portugal
Article 5
9.8.2006
A777
Ing. Jaromír Březina
Foglarova 11, 787 01 Šumperk
Czech Republic
Article 5
20.7.2006
A776
Koga BV
Tinweg 9, 8445 PD Heerenveen
The Netherlands
Article 5
19.6.2006
A773
Look Cycle International S.A.
27, rue du Docteur-Léveillé, B.P. 13, 58028 Nevers Cedex
France
Article 5
14.9.2006
A781
Loris Cycles di Perinel Lori
Via delle Industrie 8, 30022 Ceggia (VE)
Italy
Article 5
13.12.2005
A731
Prestige NV
Zuiderdijk 25, 9230 Wetteren
Belgium
Article 5
16.2.2006
A737
Puky GmbH & Co. KG
Fortunastraße 11, 42489 Wülfrath
Germany
Article 5
21.8.2006
A778
Skeppshultcykeln AB
Storgatan 78, 333 93 Skeppshult
Sweden
Article 5
29.3.2006
A745
Stevens Vertriebs GmbH
Asbrookdamm 35, 22115 Hamburg
Germany
Article 5
3.7.2006
A774
Trenga DE Vertriebs GmbH
Großmoordamm 63-67, 21079 Hamburg
Germany
Article 5
10.5.2006
A746
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The parties listed below in Table 1 below are hereby exempted from the extension to imports of certain bicycle parts from the People’s Republic of China pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 71/97 of the definitive anti-dumping duty on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China.
The exemption shall take effect in relation to each party as from the relevant date shown in the column headed ‘Date of effect’.
Table 1
List of parties to be exempted
Name
Address
Country
Exemption pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
Date of effect
TARIC additional code
ARKUS & ROMET Group Sp. z o.o.
Podgrodzie 32 C, 39-200 Dębica
Poland
Article 7
1.6.2005
A565
ARKUS Sp. z o.o.
Podgrodzie 32 C, 39-200 Dębica
Poland
Article 7
from 23.6.2004 to 31.5.2005
A565
Athletic Manufacturing Sp. z.o.o.
ul. Drawska 21, 02-202 Warszawa
Poland
Article 7
3.8.2004
A568
Avantisbike - Fabrico de bicicletas SA
Zona Industrial de Oiã (Sul), Lt. B17, 3770-059 Oiã
Portugal
Article 7
10.11.2005
A726
BELVE s.r.o.
Palkovičova, 5, 915 01 Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Slovak Republic
Article 7
4.5.2004
A535
Bike Mate s.r.o.
Dlhá 248/43, 905 01 Senica
Slovak Republic
Article 7
8.10.2004
A589
Cannondale Europe BV
Hanzepoort 27, 7575 DB Oldenzaal
The Netherlands
Article 7
21.6.2005
A686
CSEKE Trade Kft.
Központi út 21-47., 1211 Budapest
Hungary
Article 7
21.4.2005
A685
C-TRADING s.r.o.
V. Palkovicha 19, 946 03 Kolárovo
Slovak Republic
Article 7
10.2.2005
A662
Decathlon Sp. z o. o.
ul. Malborska 53, 03-286 Warszawa
Poland
Article 7
19.8.2005
A696
Eurobike Kft.
Zengő utca 58., 7693 Pécs-Hird
Hungary
Article 7
28.1.2005
A624
Fabryka Rowerów Romet-Jastrowie Sp. z o.o.
ul. Narutowicza 14, 64-915 Jastrowie
Poland
Article 7
from 14.6.2004 to 31.5.2005
A564
Firma Wielobranżowa ‘Mexller’ - Artur Nowak
ul. Romera 4/20, 42-200 Częstochowa
Poland
Article 7
22.9.2005
A697
Koliken Kft.
Széchenyi u. 103., 6400 Kiskunhalas
Hungary
Article 7
8.11.2004
A616
Koninklijke Gazelle BV
Wilhelminaweg 8, 6951 BP Dieren
The Netherlands
Article 7
29.6.2005
8609
Kynast Bike GmbH
Artlandstraße 55, 49610 Quakenbrück
Germany
Article 7
29.7.2005
A692
Manufacture de cycles du Comminges (MCC)
Z.I. Ouest, 31800 Saint-Gaudens
France
Article 7
29.6.2005
A690
Maxbike Ltd
Svatoplukova 2771, 700 30 Ostrava-Vitkovice
Czech Republic
Article 7
3.1.2005
A664
Muller Sport Bohemia s.r.o.
Okružní 110, Hlincova Hora, 373-71 Rudolfov
Czech Republic
Article 7
8.11.2004
A605
OLPRAN Spol. s.r.o.
Libušina, 101, 772-11 Olomouc
Czech Republic
Article 7
1.5.2004
A546
PFIFF Vertriebs GmbH
Wilhelmstraße 49, 49610 Quakenbrück
Germany
Article 7
6.4.2005
A668
TIESSE s.n.c. di Tosato Virginio & C.
Via Meucci 12, 35030 Caselle di Selvazzano Dentro (PD)
Italy
Article 7
24.10.2005
A724
Tolin Przedsiebiorstwo Prywatne Jerzy Topolski
Łęg-Witoszyn, 87-811 Fabianki
Poland
Article 7
10.9.2004
A586
Victus International Trading S.A.
ul. Naramowicka 150, 61-619 Poznań
Poland
Article 7
11.10.2004
A588
Vizija Sport d.o.o.
Tržaška cesta 87 b, 1370 Logatec
Slovenia
Article 7
24.1.2005
A630
Article 2
The requests for exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty submitted pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 88/97 by the parties listed in Table 2 below are hereby rejected.
The suspension of payment of the extended anti-dumping duty pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 88/97 is hereby lifted for the parties concerned as from the relevant date shown in the column headed ‘Date of effect’.
Table 2
List of parties for which the suspension is to be lifted
Name
Address
Country
Suspension pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
Date of effect
TARIC additional code
A.J. Maias Lda.
Estrada Nacional N.o 1, Malaposta, Apart. 27, 3781-908 Sangalhos
Portugal
Article 5
23.2.2005
A401
Bike Sport
Krzemionka 14, 62-872 Godziesze
Poland
Article 5
3.1.2005
A593
Hermann Hartje KG
Deichstraße 120-122, 27318 Hoya/Weser
Germany
Article 5
7.11.2005
A725
ISTRO-HGA, spol. s.r.o.
Svätopeterská 14, 947 01 Hurbanovo
Slovak Republic
Article 5
1.5.2004
A541
Maver Sp. z o.o.
ul. Przasnysza 77, 06-200 Maków Mazowiecki
Poland
Article 5
19.10.2005
A728
P.W.U.H. Sterna
ul. Lotników 51, 73-102 Stargard Szczeciński
Poland
Article 5
2.2.2005
A631
Article 3
The parties listed in Table 3 below constitute the updated list of parties under examination pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 88/97. The suspension from the extended duty, following these requests, took effect as from the relevant date in the column headed ‘Date of effect’ in Table 3.
Table 3
List of parties under examination
Name
Address
Country
Suspension pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
Date of effect
TARIC additional code
Alubike - Bicicletas, S.A.
Zona Industrial de Oiã, Lote C10, 3770-059 Oliveira do Bairro
Portugal
Article 5
12.12.2005
A730
Bonaventure BVBA
Stoomtuigstraat 16, 8830 Hooglede-Gits
Belgium
Article 5
19.1.2006
A732
Goldbike - Indústria de Bicicletas, Lda
Rua das Flores, s/n, Poutena, 3780-594 Vilarinho do Bairro Anadia
Portugal
Article 5
9.8.2006
A777
Ing. Jaromír Březina
Foglarova 11, 787 01 Šumperk
Czech Republic
Article 5
20.7.2006
A776
Koga BV
Tinweg 9, 8445 PD Heerenveen
The Netherlands
Article 5
19.6.2006
A773
Look Cycle International S.A.
27, rue du Docteur-Léveillé, B.P. 13, 58028 Nevers Cedex
France
Article 5
14.9.2006
A781
Loris Cycles di Perinel Lori
Via delle Industrie 8, 30022 Ceggia (VE)
Italy
Article 5
13.12.2005
A731
Prestige NV
Zuiderdijk 25, 9230 Wetteren
Belgium
Article 5
16.2.2006
A737
Puky GmbH & Co. KG
Fortunastraße 11, 42489 Wülfrath
Germany
Article 5
21.8.2006
A778
ROG Kolesa, d.d.
Letališka 29, 1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Article 5
1.5.2004
A538
Skeppshultcykeln AB
Storgatan 78, 333 93 Skeppshult
Sweden
Article 5
29.3.2006
A745
Stevens Vertriebs GmbH
Asbrookdamm 35, 22115 Hamburg
Germany
Article 5
3.7.2006
A774
Trenga DE Vertriebs GmbH
Großmoordamm 63-67, 21079 Hamburg
Germany
Article 5
10.5.2006
A746
Article 4
The requests for exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty made by the parties listed in Table 4 below are hereby rejected.
Table 4
List of parties for which the request for exemption is rejected
Name
Address
Country
Firma Bikeland
ul. 15 Sierpnia 17, 96-500 Sochaczew
Poland
NV 2 Bs
Slagbaan 37, 3052 Blanden
Belgium
NV Simons
Staatsbaan 279, 3460 Bekkevoort
Belgium
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States and to the parties listed in Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Done at Brussels, 10 November 2006.