EN Official Journal of the European Union L 169/1

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 913/2006

of 19 June 2006

amending the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of television camera systems originating in Japan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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 the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,

Whereas:

A. PREVIOUS PROCEDURES

(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 1015/94 (2), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of television camera systems (TCS) originating in Japan.

(2) In September 2000, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 (3), confirmed the definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1015/94 (as subsequently amended) pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

(3) In Article 1(3)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000, the Council specifically excluded from the scope of the anti-dumping duty camera systems listed in the Annex to that Regulation (the Annex), representing high-end professional camera systems technically falling within the product definition under Article 1(2) of that Regulation, but which cannot be regarded as television camera systems.

(4) The Commission, by notice of 29 September 2005 (4), initiated a review pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation concerning the anti-dumping measures in force on imports of TCS originating in Japan.

B. INVESTIGATION CONCERNING NEW MODELS OF PROFESSIONAL CAMERA SYSTEMS

1. PROCEDURE

(5) Two Japanese exporting producers, Matsushita and Hitachi Denshi (Europa) GmbH (Hitachi) informed the Commission that they intended to introduce new models of professional camera systems into the Community market and requested the Commission to add these new models of professional camera systems and their accessories to the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 and thus exempt them from the scope of the anti-dumping duties.

(6) The Commission informed the Community industry accordingly and commenced an investigation limited to the determination of whether the products under consideration fall within the scope of the anti-dumping duties and whether the operative part of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 should be amended accordingly.

2. MODELS UNDER INVESTIGATION

(7) The requests for exemption were received for the following models of camera systems, supplied with the relevant technical information: Matsushita: — Camera head AK-HC910L, — Camera head AK-HC1500G, — Camera control unit AK-HRP900, — Camera control unit AK-HRP150. All models were presented as successors of models already excluded from the anti-dumping measures in force. Hitachi: — Camera head DK-H31, — Remote Control Panel RU-3300N. Both models were presented as models closely resembling models already excluded from the anti-dumping measures in force. They are not offered in combination with a triax system or triax adaptor and they are used for camera surveillance and teleconferencing as well as in laboratories and libraries.

3. FINDINGS

(a) Camera heads AK-HC910L and AK-HC1500G, camera control units AK-HRP900 and AK-HRP150

(8) The camera heads AK-HC910L and AK-HC1500G and camera control units AK-HRP900 and AK-HRP150 fall within the product description of Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000. However, they are mainly used for professional applications and were found to be professional camera systems within the meaning of Article 1(3)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000. They should therefore be excluded from the scope of the existing anti-dumping measures and added to the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000.

(9) In accordance with the established Community institutions' practice, these television camera systems should be exempted from the anti-dumping duty from the date of receipt by the Commission services of the relevant request for exemption. Therefore, all imports of the following cameras imported on or after 5 September 2005 should be exempted from the anti-dumping duty from this date: Matsushita: — Camera head AK-HC910L, — Camera head AK-HC1500G, — Camera control unit AK-HRP900, — Camera control unit AK-HRP150.

(b) Camera heads DK-H31 and remote control panel RU-3300N

(10) Camera head DK-H31 and remote control panel RU-3300N fall within the product description of Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000. However, they are mainly used for professional applications and are not sold with the corresponding triax system or adaptor on the Community market. Therefore, it was concluded that they should be regarded as professional camera systems within the meaning of Article 1(3)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000. As a result, they should be excluded from the scope of the existing anti-dumping measures and added to the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000.

(11) In accordance with the established Community institutions' practice, these television camera systems should be exempted from the anti-dumping duty from the date of receipt by the Commission services of the relevant request for exemption. Therefore, all imports of the following cameras imported on or after 3 November 2005 should be exempted from the anti-dumping duty from this date: Hitachi: — Camera head DK-H31, — Remote control panel RU-3300N.

4. INFORMATION OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND CONCLUSIONS

(12) The Commission informed the Community industry and the exporters of the TCS of its findings and provided them with an opportunity to present their views. None of the parties objected to the Commission's findings.

(13) On the basis of the above, Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex of Regulation (EC) No 2042/2000 shall be replaced by the Annex hereto.

Article 2

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. This Regulation shall apply to imports of the following models produced and exported to the Community by the following exporting producers:

(a) Matsushita from 5 September 2005: — Camera head AK-HC910L, — Camera head AK-HC1500G, — Camera control unit AK-HRP900, — Camera control unit AK-HRP150.

(b) Hitachi from 3 November 2005: — Camera head DK-H31, — Remote control panel RU-3300N.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 19 June 2006. For the Council The President J. PRÖLL

(1) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17).

(2) OJ L 111, 30.4.1994, p. 106. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1754/2004 (OJ L 313, 12.10.2004, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 38. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1454/2005 (OJ L 231, 8.9.2005, p. 1).

(4) OJ C 239, 29.9.2005, p. 9.