EN Official Journal of the European Union L 165/37

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 548/2012

of 25 June 2012

initiating an investigation concerning the possible circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1458/2007 on imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters originating in the People’s Republic of China by imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not, and making such imports subject to registration

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 (1) (‘the basic Regulation’) and in particular Articles 13(3) and 14(5) thereof,

After having consulted the Advisory Committee in accordance with Articles 13(3) and 14(5) of the basic Regulation,

Whereas:

A. REQUEST

(1) The European Commission (‧the Commission‧) has received a request pursuant to Articles 13(3) and 14(5) of the basic Regulation to investigate the possible circumvention of the anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters originating in the People's Republic of China and to make imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not, subject to registration.

(2) The request was lodged on 17 April 2012 by Société BIC, a Union producer of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters.

B. PRODUCT

(3) The product concerned by the possible circumvention is gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters currently falling within CN code ex 9613 10 00 originating in the People’s Republic of China (‧the product concerned‧).

(4) The product under investigation is the same as that defined in the previous recital, but consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not, currently falling within the same CN code as the product concerned (‧the product under investigation‧).

C. EXISTING MEASURES

(5) The measures currently in force and possibly being circumvented are anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1458/2007 (2).

(6) A circumvention investigation concerning imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters and of certain refillable pocket flint lighters was also carried out in 1998-1999 which led to the extension of the duty to imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters originating in the People's Republic of China to imports of certain disposable refillable pocket flint lighters originating in the People's Republic of China or consigned from or originating in Taiwan and to imports of non-refillable lighters consigned from or originating in Taiwan (3).

D. GROUNDS

(7) The request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the anti-dumping measures on imports of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters originating in the People's Republic of China are being circumvented by means of assembly operations in Vietnam.

(8) The prima facie evidence submitted is as follows.

(9) The request shows a significant change in the pattern of trade involving exports from the People's Republic of China and Vietnam to the Union has taken place following the imposition of measures on the product concerned, without sufficient due cause or justification for such a change other than the imposition of the duty.

(10) This change appears to stem from assembly operations in Vietnam of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters.

(11) Furthermore, the request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the remedial effects of the existing anti-dumping measures on the product concerned are being undermined both in terms of quantity and price. Significant volumes of imports of the product under investigation appear to have replaced imports of the product concerned. In addition, there is sufficient evidence that imports of the product under investigation are made at prices below the non-injurious price established in the investigation that led to the existing measures.

(12) Finally, the request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the prices of the product under investigation are dumped in relation to the normal value previously established for the product concerned.

(13) Should circumvention practices via Vietnam covered by Article 13 of the basic Regulation, other than assembly operations, be identified in the course of the investigation, the investigation may also cover these practices.

E. PROCEDURE

(14) In light of the above, the Commission has concluded that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an investigation pursuant to Article 13(3) of the basic Regulation and to make imports of the product under investigation, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not, subject to registration, in accordance with Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation.

(a) Questionnaires

(15) In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the known exporters/producers and to the known associations of exporters/producers in Vietnam, to the known exporters/producers and to the known associations of exporters/producers in the People's Republic of China, to the known importers and to the known associations of importers in the Union and to the authorities of the People's Republic of China and Vietnam. Information, as appropriate, may also be sought from the Union industry.

(16) In any event, all interested parties should contact the Commission forthwith, but not later than the time-limit set in Article 3 of this Regulation, and request a questionnaire within the time-limit set in Article 3(1) of this Regulation, given that the time-limit set in Article 3(2) of this Regulation applies to all interested parties.

(17) The authorities of the People's Republic of China and Vietnam will be notified of the initiation of the investigation.

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

(18) All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known in writing and to provide supporting evidence. Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request in writing and show that there are particular reasons why they should be heard.

(c) Exemption of registration of imports or measures

(19) In accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation may be exempted from registration or measures if the importation does not constitute circumvention.

(20) Since the possible circumvention takes place outside the Union, exemptions may be granted, in accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, to producers in Vietnam of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters, that can show that they are not related (4) to any producer subject to the measures (5) and that are found not to be engaged in circumvention practices as defined in Articles 13(1) and 13(2) of the basic Regulation. Producers wishing to obtain an exemption should submit a request duly supported by evidence within the time-limit indicated in Article 3(3) of this Regulation.

F. REGISTRATION

(21) Pursuant to Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation should be made subject to registration in order to ensure that, should the investigation result in findings of circumvention, anti-dumping duties of an appropriate amount can be levied from the date on which registration of such imports consigned from Vietnam was imposed.

G. TIME-LIMITS

(22) In the interest of sound administration, time-limits should be stated within which: — interested parties may make themselves known to the Commission, present their views in writing and submit questionnaire replies or any other information to be taken into account during the investigation, — producers in Vietnam may request exemption from registration of imports or measures, — interested parties may make a written request to be heard by the Commission.

(23) Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the time-limits mentioned in Article 3 of this Regulation.

H. NON-COOPERATION

(24) In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time-limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

(25) Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of facts available.

(26) If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on the facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

I. SCHEDULE OF THE INVESTIGATION

(27) The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 13(3) of the basic Regulation, within nine months of the date of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

J. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

(28) It is noted that any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (6).

K. HEARING OFFICER

(29) Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer of the Directorate-General for Trade. The Hearing Officer acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services. The Hearing Officer reviews requests for access to the file, disputes regarding the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time-limits and requests by third parties to be heard. The Hearing Officer may organise a hearing with an individual interested party and mediate to ensure that the interested parties' rights of defence are being fully exercised.

(30) A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. The Hearing Officer will also provide opportunities for a hearing involving parties to take place which would allow different views to be presented and rebuttal arguments offered.

(31) For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on the Directorate-General for Trade's website: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/tackling-unfair-trade/hearing-officer/index_en.htm.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

An investigation is hereby initiated pursuant to Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009, in order to determine if imports into the Union of gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket flint lighters, consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not, currently falling within CN code ex 9613 10 00 (TARIC code 9613100012), are circumventing the measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1458/2007.

Article 2

The Customs authorities shall, pursuant to Article 13(3) and Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009, take the appropriate steps to register the imports into the Union identified in Article 1 of this Regulation.

Registration shall expire nine months following the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

The Commission, by regulation, may direct Customs authorities to cease registration in respect of imports into the Union of products manufactured by producers having applied for an exemption of registration and having been found to fulfil the conditions for an exemption to be granted.

Article 3

1. Questionnaires must be requested from the Commission within 15 days from publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. Interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views in writing and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 37 days from the date of the publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

3. Producers in Vietnam requesting exemption from registration of imports or measures must submit a request duly supported by evidence within the same 37-day time-limit.

4. Interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 37-day time-limit.

5. Interested parties are required to make all submissions and requests in electronic format (non-confidential submissions via e-mail, confidential ones on CD-R/DVD), and must indicate their name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers. However, any Powers of Attorney, signed certifications, and any updates thereof, accompanying questionnaire replies must be submitted on paper, i.e. by post or by hand, at the address below. If an interested party cannot provide its submissions and requests in electronic format, it must immediately inform the Commission in compliance with Article 18(2) of the basic Regulation. For further information concerning correspondence with the Commission, interested parties may consult the relevant web page on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/tackling-unfair-trade/trade-defence.

All written submissions, including the information requested in this Regulation, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis must be labelled as ‧Limited‧ (7) and, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, must be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which must be labelled ‧For inspection by interested parties‧.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission Directorate-General for Trade Directorate H Office: N105 4/92 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË Fax: +32 2 29 93988 E-mail: trade-lighters-circumvention@ec.europa.eu

Article 4

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

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 25 June 2012. For the Commission The President José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51.

(2) OJ L 326, 12.12.2007, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 1.

(4) In accordance with Article 143 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 concerning the implementation of the Community Customs Code, persons shall be deemed to be related only if: (a) they are officers or directors of one another's businesses; (b) they are legally recognized partners in business; (c) they are employer and employee; (d) any person directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds 5% or more of the outstanding voting stock or shares of both of them; (e) one of them directly or indirectly controls the other; (f) both of them are directly or indirectly controlled by a third person; (g) together they directly or indirectly control a third person; or (h) they are members of the same family. Persons shall be deemed to be members of the same family only if they stand in any of the following relationships to one another: (i) husband and wife, (ii) parent and child, (iii) brother and sister (whether by whole or half blood), (iv) grandparent and grandchild, (v) uncle or aunt and nephew or niece, (vi) parent-in-law and son-in-law or daughter-in-law, (vii) brother-in-law and sister-in-law. (OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1). In this context ‧person‧ means any natural or legal person.

(5) However, even if producers are related in the aforementioned sense to companies subject to the measures in place on imports originating in the People’s Republic of China (the original anti-dumping measures), an exemption may still be granted if there is no evidence that the relationship with the companies subject to the original measures was established or used to circumvent the original measures.

(6) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

(7) A ‧Limited‧ document is a document which is considered confidential pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 343 22.12.2009 p. 51) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement). It is also a document protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).