Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. In November 1997, by Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended in October 1998 by Regulation (EC) No 2079/98 and in September 1999 by Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, the Council imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on certain imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland and accepted undertakings offered from certain producers in connection with these imports. Sampling was applied to Polish producers/exporters and individual duties ranging from 4.0% to 10.6% were imposed on the companies in the sample, while other co-operating companies not included in the sample received a weighted average duty of 6.3%. The producers from whom undertakings were accepted were exempted from anti-dumping duties with regard to imports of one specific pallet type, the EUR-pallet, which is the only pallet type covered by the undertaking.

2. Eight new Polish exporting producers having requested the same treatment as the companies which co-operated in the original investigation but were not included in the sample, have provided, on request, evidence showing that they meet the requirements of a new exporter as set out in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97. The evidence provided by these applicant companies is considered sufficient to allow Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 to be amended by adding these eight exporting producers to Annex I (companies numbered from 110 until 117) of said Regulation, specifying the exporting producers subject to a weighted average duty of 6.3%.

Six of these eight Polish exporting producers have also offered undertakings with regard to the EUR-pallet which are accepted by the attached Commission Decision. Consequently, these six companies are added to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 specifying the exporting producers subject to an undertaking.

3. Two Polish exporting producers, from which the undertaking had been originally accepted, have been withdrawn from Annex II following their statement that they are no longer producers of the product concerned.

4. One exporting producer, subject to an individual anti-dumping duty pursuant to Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 has informed the Commission Services that its address has changed, and therefore, it is appropriate to amend Article 1 of Council Regualtion (EC) No 2334/97 to that effect.

5. It is therefore proposed, after consultation of the Advisory Committee, that the Council adopts the draft Regulation annexed amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, as specified above in recitals 2, 3 and 4.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland

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], and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

[1] OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1, Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 905/98 (OJ L 128, 30.4.1998, p. 18).

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 [2], and in particular Article 4(1) and (2) thereof,

[2] OJ L 324, 27.11.1997, p. 1, Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2078/98 (OJ L 266, 1.10.1998, p. 1)

Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,

Whereas:

A. PREVIOUS PROCEDURE

(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on certain imports of flat pallets of wood falling within CN code ex 4415 20 20 originating in the Republic of Poland and accepted undertakings offered from certain producers in connection with these imports. Sampling was applied to Polish producers/exporters and individual duties ranging from 4,0% to 10,6% were imposed on the companies in the sample, while other co-operating companies not included in the sample received a weighted average duty of 6,3%. A duty of 10,6% was imposed on companies which either did not make themselves known or did not co-operate in the investigation. The producers from which undertakings were accepted were exempted from anti-dumping duties with regard to imports of one specific pallet type, the EUR-pallet, which is the only pallet type covered by the undertakings.

(2) Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 stipulates that any party which provides sufficient evidence to the Commission that:

- it did not export to the Community or produce wooden pallets described in Article 1(1) of that Regulation during the investigation period,

- it is not related to any of the producers or exporters in Poland which are subject to the anti-dumping duties imposed by that Regulation,

- it has actually exported to the Community the goods concerned after the investigation period, or it has entered into any irrevocable contractual obligation to export a significant quantity to the Community;

then that Regulation can be amended by granting that party the duty rate applicable to co-operating producers which were not in the sample, i.e. 6.3%.

Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 provides furthermore that any party which met the criteria set out in Article 4(1) thereof can also be exempted from the payment of the anti-dumping duty if an undertaking with regard to the so-called EUR-pallet is accepted from such party.

(3) The Council, by Regulations (EC) No 2079/98 [3] and (EC) No 2048/99 [4] amended Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 in its annexes I and II.

[3] OJ L 266, 1.10.1998, p. 1.

[4] OJ L 255, 30.09.1999, p. 1

B. NEW EXPORTERS' REQUEST

(4) Eight new Polish exporting producers having requested the same treatment as the companies which co-operated in the original investigation but were not included in the sample, have provided, on request, evidence showing that they meet the requirements set out in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97. The evidence provided by these applicant companies is considered sufficient to allow Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, to be amended by adding these eight exporting producers to Annex I of the said Regulation. Annex I specifies the exporting producers which are subject to the weighted average duty of 6.3%.

(5) Six of the eight Polish exporting producers which will receive the weighted average duty of 6.3%, have also offered undertakings with regard to the EUR-pallet which were accepted by Commission Decision 2000/ /EC [5]. Consequently, these six companies should be added to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2048/99, which contains a list of companies from which the Commission has accepted undertakings with regard to imports of the EUR-pallet and to which the duty does not, therefore, apply in this respect.

[5] See page xx of this Official Journal.

C. WITHDRAWAL OF UNDERTAKING

(6) Two Polish exporting producers, P.P.H. "Pamadex" and P.H.U. "Akropol", from which the Commission accepted an undertaking by Regulation (EC) No 1023/97, have stated that they do not produce the product concerned any longer. Therefore, the Commission informed them that it is intended to remove them from the list of companies from which an undertaking was accepted. The two companies did not object to this course of action. It should also be noted that those two companies could again offer an undertaking should they decide to resume production and exports of the EUR pallets

D. CHANGE OF ADDRESS

(7) A Polish exporting producer, Z.P.H. 'Palettenwerk' - K. Kozik Bystra Podhalanska which is subject to an individual anti-dumping duty pursuant to Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 has informed the Commission services that its address has changed. Hence, Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 must be amended accordingly.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The reference in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 to the manufacturer Z.P.H. 'Palettenwerk' - K. Kozik, PL-34-789 Bystra Podhalanska, should be deleted and replaced by the following:

- Z.P.H. 'Pallettenwerk' - K. Kozik, PL-34-785 Jordanow.

Article 2

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 is hereby replaced by Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 3

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 is hereby replaced by Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 4

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

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX I

Manufacturer

1 // "Baumann Palety" Sp. z o.o., Barczewo

2 // "DAST" GmbH, Poznan

3 // Drew-Pol Export-Import, Wodarz Norbert, Murow

4 // E. Dziurny - C. Nowak S.C., Snietnica

5 // F.P.H. "Tina", Katowice

6 // F.P.H. Tadeusz Fisher, Maly Gleboczek

7 // F.P.U.H. "Rol-Mar", Adam Piatek, Klodzko

8 // Z.P.H.U. Miroslaw Przybyiek, Klonowa

9 // Internationale Paletten Company Sp., Lebork

10 // "Kross-Pol" Sp.zo.o., Kolobrzeg

11 // P.P.U.H."Drewmax" Sp.zo.o. (formerly P.P.H. "Drewnex" ), Krakow

12 // P.P.H. "GKT" S.C., Majdan Nowy

13 // P.P.H. "Pamadex", Ligota

14 // P.P.H. "Unikat", Aleksandrow IV 697

15 // P.P.H.U. "Adapol" S.C., Wolomin

16 // P.P.U.H. "Alwa" Sp.zo.o., Tychowo

17 // P.P.U.H. "SMS" - St. Mrozowicz, Suleczyno

18 // P.T.H. "Mirex", Kolobrzeg

19 // P.W. "Peteco" Sp.zo.o., Warszawa

20 // Parafia Rzymsko-Katolicka, B. Niepokalaneg Dzialalnose Gospodaroza, Nowy Sacz

21 // Produkcja Palet "A. Adamus", Kuznia Grabowska

22 // Produkcja Skup Palet Drewnanych, Stanislaw Lachowicz, Majdan Sieniawski 170

23 // Przedsiebiorstwo "Amesko", Andrzej Skora, Trzebnica

24 // P.H.U. "Justyna", Gubin

25 // P.H.U. "Akropol", Krakow

26 // P.H.U. Produkcyjne "Lech", Lech Szwez, Zary

27 // Przedsiebiorstwo Obrobki Drewna "Palet-Pol" Sp.zo.o., Dabrowka WLKP

28 // P.P.H. Zygmunt Skibinski, Kowal

29 // P.P.H.U. "AWA" Sp.zo.o, Nowy Sacz

30 // Przedsiebiorstwo Wielobranzowe, Zdziolaw Milocki, Ostroda

31 // "Scanproduct" SA., Czarny Dunajec

32 // SC "Bed", Dariusz Zuk, Krasienin

33 // S.U.T.R. "Rol Trak", Prochowice

34 // Stolarstwo Export-Import, Tadeusz Swirski, Dlugopole Zdroj

35 // Torunskie Przedsiebiorstwo Przemyslu Drzewnego w Toruniu, Adam Wisniewski, Torun

36 // "Transdrewneks" Sp. zo.o., Grudziadz-Owczarki

37 // W.Z.P.U.M. "Euro-Tech", Rakszawa

38 // Wytwazanie Skrzyn i Opakowan Drewnianych, Malgorzata i Ryszard Nowak, Piaszyna

39 // Zaklad Produkcyjno Bohuszko, Ryszard Bohuszko, Osno

40 // Z.P.H. "Maw" SC., Andrzej Kulej, Lubomierz

41 // Zaklad Uslugowo-Handlowy "Rolmex", E. Cackowski, Lipno

42 // Zaklad Wielobranzowy Produkcyjno Uslugowy, Ryszard Potoniec, Muszyna

43 // Zaklad Przerobu Drewna S.C., Drawsko Pomorskie

44 // Zphu "Drewex" SC., Agnieszka Pawlaczyk, Skwierzyna

45 // Z.P.H.U. "Sek-Pol" Sp.zo.o., Tarnobrzeg

46 // "Euro-Mega-Plus" Sp.zo.o., Kielce

47 // "C.M.C.", Sp.zo.o., Andrychow, Inwald

48 // Wyrob, Sprzedaz, Skup Palet, Josef Kolodziejczyk, Aleksandrow IV 704

49 // Firma Produkcyjno Transportowa Marian Gerka, Brodnica

50 // Z.P.H.U. "Drewnex" S.C., Zelazkow 45 b

51 // Import-Export "Elko" Sp.zo.o., Kalisz

52 // P.P.H.U. "Probox", Import-Export, Kalisz

53 // Drewpal S.C., Stawiszyn

54 // Zaman S.C., Radom

55 // "Marimpex", Pulawy

56 // "AVEN" Sp.zo.o., Kostrzyn

57 // P.P.H.U. "Eurex" S.C., Godynice

58 // P.H. "Drewex" S.C., Lebork

59 // MACED Sklad Palet, J. Macionga, Miastko

60 // ENKEL S.C., Pulawy

61 // PAL-PACK Sp.zo.o., Wierzchowo

62 // Produkcja Stolarska Posrednictwo Export-Import, W.i.T. HENSOLDT, Lebork

63 // Biuro Uslugowo-Handlowe, Wieslaw Rzezniczek, Lebork

64 // P.P.U.H. "DREWPOL", Braszewice

65 // PTN Kruklanki Sp.zo.o., Krulanki

66 // WEDAM S.C., Stezyca

67 // Import-Export Jan Sibinski, Czajkow

68 // Zaklad Produkcyjny "Tarta", Lubsko

69 // Firma "Krausdrew", Cewice

70 // "Lidal" S.C., Miastko

71 // Zaklad Przerobu Drewna Import-Export, Stanislaw Kociolek, Ladek Zdroj

72 // P.P.H.U. "Alk", Bierzwnik

73 // "Empol" S.C., Jastrzebniki 37

74 // Zaklad Produkcji Drzewnej Nr. 1, Export-Import, Julian Bartkowski, Sanok

75 // P.P.H. "Drewex", Czarnkow

76 // "ZAP" Przedsiebiorstwo Handlowe-Uslugowe Sp.C, Wschowa

77 // P.P.H.U. "Opal", Zygmunt Podgorski, Bukowsko 41

78 // "Algepa-Pol", Sp.zo.o., Lubsko

79 // P.P.H. "A-Produkt" S.C., Resko

80 // PPH "Paletex" Sibinski Jaroslaw, Czajkow

81 // Euro-Handels Sp.zo.o., Szczecin

82 // Firma "KIKO" S.C., Poznan

83 // "Enkel" Waldemar Wnuk, Pulawy

84 // Sliwka Lucyna, Klodzko

85 // Firma Borkowski S.C. Export-Import, Grabow n. Prosna

86 // Produkcja - Skup Elementow i Palet, Stanislaw Gorecki, Czajkow

87 // "Prodpalet" Handel, Boleslawiec

88 // Z.P.H.U. "Drexport" S.C., Olecko, Osiedle Lesk

89 // "Bilusa" Sp.zo.o, Klodawa

90 // Pawel Bilko "Pablo", Klodawa

91 // Z.P.W "Gober" Sp.zo.o, Gorzow Wlkp.

92 // Kisiel Malgorzata "Drew-Pal", Dobra Now

93 // P.W. "Remag" , Zlocieniec

94 // P.P.U.H PAL-POL S.C., Prabuty

95 // Firma "A.C.S." S.C., Kamien

96 // Zaklad Drzewny "MARINO", Kawcze

97 // P.T.P.U.H. "ROB-POL", Milkow

98 // Z.H.U.P. Agromal, Sieradz

99 // SMT Sp.zo.o, Miastko

100 // Firma Transdrewneks Gadzala Antoni, Torun

101 // Artur Rochmankowski, Trzcinsko-Zdroj

102 // "Depo" Sp.zo.o, Ilowa

103 // B.P.R. Sp.zo.o, Warszawa

104 // "DREWNO" Sp.zo.o., Krzeszyce

105 // P.P.H. "Astra" Sp.zo.o, Nowy Sacz

106 // "D&M&D" Sp.zo.o, Blizanow

107 // P.P.H. "Vector", Kalisz

108 // "Palko" Sp.zo.o, Sedziszow

109 // P.P.H. Pol-Wood S.C., Rzekun

110 // PPH "YANSAM", Zlocieniec

111 // P.P.H.U. 'ELMA' S.C., Sobieseki

112 // PPH SWENDEX S.C., Lublin

113 // P.P.H.U. ROMAX Import-Eksport, Wroclaw

114 // Z.P.H.U. "BESTPOL" Sp. z o.o., Lututow

115 // P.P.H.U. Zbigniew Marek, Andrichow

116 // Pomorski Serwis Paletowy Sp. z o.o., Kobylnica

117 // 'EMI' S.C., Bilgoraj

ANNEX II

Manufacturer

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