Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1015/94 imposing a definitive anti- dumping duty on imports of television camera systems originating in Japan
Date: 1995-09-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Japan, anti-dumping duty, import, recording equipment, television

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

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Brussels,  18.09.1995 
COM(95)  420  final 

Proposal  for  a 
COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EC) 

amending  Regulation  (EC)  No  1015/94  imposing  a defintive  anti-dumping  duty 
on  imports  of  television  camera  systems  originating  in  Japan 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

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

The Council  excluded certain models of professional  cameras from the application of 
the anti-dumping  duty; these exempt models were listed in an Annex  attached to the 
abovementioned Council Regulation. 

Several  exporters informed  the  Commission  about the intended introduction into the 
Community  market  of  either  successor  or  new  camera  models  and  asked  the 
Commission to establish whether they would fall within the scope of the anti-dumping 
duty and to amend the Annex accordingly. 

The  complainant  Community  industry  asked the  Commission  to confirm  that a new 
camera model which is furnished with four CCDs (Charge-Coupled Devices), instead 
of three,  as  described  in  the  product  definition,  should  fall  within  the  scope  of  the 
anti-dumping duty. 

The Commission,  in a review of Regulation No  1015/94 pursuant to Article  14(3) of 
Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, consulted on both issues all interested parties, providing 
them with the relevant technical documentation. 

The  Commission,  after  examining  all  the  products  and  taking  into  account  the 
comments submitted by all interested parties, concluded that: 

(a)  all successor/new models should be excluded from the scope of the anti-dumping 

duty; 

(b) 

the four CCDs should be subject to the anti-dumping duty. 

Therefore the Commission is now proposing to: 

(a) 

replace the Annex with an amended version, which contains both old and new 
exempted professional  camera models; 

(b)  amend the product definition  in such a way that also the four-CCD camera can 

be covered by the application of the anti-dumping duty. 

Proposal  for  a 
COUNCIL REGULATION ŒC) 

amending Regulation  (EC) No  1015/94 imposing a defintive  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 3283/94 of 22 December  1994 on protection 
against dumped  imports from  countries not members of the European  Community^,  as last 
amended by Regulation  (EC) No  1251/95(2), and in particular  Article 23 thereof, 

Having  regard  to  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2423/88  of  11  July  1988  on  protection 
against dumped  or 
the 
European Economic Community0**, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 522/94<4), and in 
particular Article  14 thereof, 

countries  not  members  of 

subsidized 

imports 

from 

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 1015/94(S), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty 

on imports of television  camera  systems originating in Japan. 

(2)  The  Council  specifically  excluded  from  the  scope  of  the  anti-dumping  duty  the 
professional  cameras listed in the Annex to that Regulation  (hereinafter  "the Annex"), 
representing  high-end  professional  cameras  technically  falling  within  the  product 
definition  under  Article  1(2)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1015/94  but  which  cannot  be 
regarded  as broadcast cameras. 

B. REVIEW  PROCEDURE 

(3)  Subsequently,  several  exporters made it known to the Commission  that they  intended 
to  introduce new models of professional  cameras into the Community  market, which 
in their view should be added to the list of camera models in the Annex exempted  from 
the anti-dumping duty. 

(4)  The 

Japanese  producer, 

the 
Community  market  of  a  broadcast  camera  (HK-466/P) which  is  furnished  with  four 
sensors (Charge-Coupled  Devices, CCDs), instead  of three CCDs, as described  in the 
product  definition  for  broadcast  cameras  under  Article  1(2)  of  Regulation  (EC) 
No  1015/94.  The  complainant  Community  producers  (hereinafter  "the  Community 

introduction 

announced 

Ikegami, 

into 

the 

(i) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

OJNoL349,  31.12.1994, p. 1. 
O J N oL  122, 2.6.1995, p. 1. 
OJNoL209,  2.8.1988, p. 1. 
O J N 0 L 6 6,  10.3.1994, p. 10. 
OJNoL  111,  30.4.1994, p. 106. 

industry") requested the inclusion of this camera within the scope of the anti-dumping 
duty since they claimed that it was a like product, and provided technical  specifications. 

(5)  The  Commission  commenced  a  review  of  Regulation  (EC)  1015/94  in  June  1994, 
limited to  determining whether the new products fall  within  the  scope  of the  present 
proceeding. 

C. RESULTS OF THE REVIEW 

(a)  Successor or new models 

(6)  The Commission  informed  all  parties  concerned  about the possibility  of  applying  for 

inclusion in the Annex of new or  successor models. 

(7)  The  following  companies  made  applications  in  respect  of  the new  and  the  successor 

models listed below  and  supplied the relevant technical  information. 

Successor models: 

(I)  Hitachi 

camera head HV-C20 and  submodel  HV-C20M; 
camera head Z-ONE-D and submodels (A), (B) and (C); 
camera control units RU-Z2, RC-Z1, RC-Z11, RC-Z2, RC-Z21; 
camera adaptors CA-Z1, CA-Z2, CA-Z1SJ, CA-Z1SP, CA-Z1M, CA-Z1M2, 
CA-Z1HB, CA-C10, CA-C10SP, CA-C10SJA, CA-C10M, CA-C10B; 
view finder GM-50 (A). 

(H) 

Ikegami 

camera head HC-390; 
viewfinder  VF  15-39; 
camera adaptor CA-390. 

(III)  IV£ 

camera head KY-27CECH; 
camera control unit RM-P270EG. 

(IV)  Matsushita 

camera head WV-F-565HE; 
viewfinder  WV-VF42E; 
remote control units WV-RC550/G and WV-RC550/B. 

(V)  Sony. 

camera head family  DXC-637 P in the configurations  DXC-637PK, DXC-
637PL, DXC-637PH, PVW-637PK  and PVW-637PL; 
view finders DXF-601CE, DXF-40BCE  and DXF-50BCE. 

New models: 
(vi)  ne 

camera head KH-100U: it is intended to be used in a closed circuit system 
(such  as lecture halls, exhibition  rooms and theatres).  It can  only be used 
in  the  Japanese  High  Definition  Standard  (Hi-Vision)  and  cannot  be 
employed under the current European broadcast standard (PAL or SEC AM). 

(8)  The Commission provided the Community industry concerned with the technical details 
of all of the models listed above and asked them to give their comments regarding the 
classification  as professional  cameras. 

The  Community  industry  confirmed  that  all  of  the  models  mentioned  under  point  7 
above  were  either  successors  to  professional  camera  models  which  were  already 
excluded  from  the application  of the duty  or new models of professional  cameras. 

(9)  The Commission  carried  out  a technical  examination  which  for  the  successor  models 
included  a  physical  comparison  with  the  predecessor  models.  On  the  basis  of  this 
technical  examination and in the light of the comments made by the interested  parties 
concerned, it is concluded that all models listed in point 7 above are either professional 
cameras and related equipment which replace or update models previously listed in the 
Annex, or new models of professional  cameras. It follows that they  should be exempt 
from  the application  of the anti-dumping  duty and that the Annex should be amended 
accordingly. 

(b)  The four-CCD  camera 

(10)  The Commission asked Ikegami to supply information on its new four-CCD camera and 
to  comment  on  the  request  of  the  Community  industry.  Ikegami  provided  technical 
details and  explanations  regarding  the four-CCD  camera.  On this basis, all  interested 
parties concerned  were invited to make their comments. 

Ikegami's position 

(11)  From  the  formal  point  of  view,  Ikegami  argued  that  the  four-CCD  camera  was  not 
covered by the anti-dumping proceeding, since no complaint had been lodged in regard 
to  it  and  it  had  not  submitted  to  investigations  at  that  time.  Regulation  (EC) 
No  1015/94 concerns only camera heads with three sensors. Ikegami further argued that 
a  review  could  not  alter  the  scope  of  the  proceedings,  which  was  defined  in  the 
Notice of Initiation  and in the provisional  and definitive  duty  regulations. 

(12)  As  far  as  the  technical  aspects  are  concerned,  Ikegami  claimed  that  the  four-CCD 
camera is not a like product comparable to three-CCD cameras, since a completely new 
technology  was employed.  Two of the CCDs are intended to pick up the light for  the 
colour green. Ikegami submitted a memorandum showing that scientific research on the 
use of two CCDs for  the green  channel  had already  started  in  1991 and  claimed  it to 
be  a  technical  development  which  had  been  envisaged  before  the  imposition  of  the 
anti-umping duty and which was therefore not related to the application of the imposed 
anti-dumping duty. 

Ikegami  pointed  out  that  the  four-CCD  system  offers  a  number  of  advantages  over 
three-CCD cameras: 

a higher resolution  of the whole image; 
a better  modulation-depth; 
a higher dynamic range; 
less aliasing; 
the reduction  of chromatic  aberration  of the lenses. 

(13)  From  the  market  perspective,  Ikegami  claimed  that  four-CCD  cameras  formed  a 
separate  market  segment,  being  the  only  products  optimized  for  16:9  Pal-Plus 
production, and that, with the introduction of the new HK-466/P, a new market segment 
would  be  created.  In  conclusion,  Ikegami  took  the  view  that  this  product  could  not 
cause injury  to the three-CCD  Community  industry. 

Comments from  other exporters 

(14)  Only one exporter commented stating that the new four-CCD cameras did not show any 
substantial  change  as compared  with  the three-CCD  cameras  and  that  except  for  the 
four-CCD  camera  head  containing  certain  new  parts,  all  the  other  components  were 
identical; the exporter was of the view that this product could therefore be regarded as 
equivalent to the three-CCD systems. 

Comments  from  the Community  industry 

(15)  As regards the  technical  aspects,  the  Community  industry  stated  that  the  addition  of 
one CCD  did  not  have  any  significant  impact  on  the  nature  of  the  product  as  a 
broadcast  camera.  They  affirmed  that  the  double  CCD  in  halfpixel  offset  is  only  an 
intermediate  solution,  merely  representing  a  way  of  temporarily  overcoming 
technological  problems.  The four  CCD technology  may  represent  an improvement in 
the performance  of Ikegami's cameras, but not in the whole market.  The existence of 
a different  approach known as the Dynamic Pixel Management (DPM) technology was 
mentioned  as  a  way  of  obtaining  the  same  results  in  terms  of  vertical/horizontal 
resolutions. 

(16)  From a market perspective, the Community industry asserted that the four-CCD will not 
create  any  separate  market  segment,  as  it  would  target  the  same  users  as  the 
three-CD cameras currently do. They conclude that the four-CCD camera is not a new 
product, nor is it  creating  a new market  segment.  Consequently,  it  should  fall  within 
the scope of Regulation  (EC) No  1015/94. 

Conclusion 

(17)  From  a  formal  point  of  view,  the  product  definition  given  under  Article  1(2)  of 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1015/94  referred  to  three-CCD  cameras  solely  in  order  to 
differentiate  the  products  covered  by  the  proceeding  from  single-CCD  cameras 
(camcorders), which are excluded. However,  four-CCD  cameras fall  within the single 
category  of  product  concerned  and  would  have  been  expressly  mentioned  in  the 
description  of  the product  subject  to  the investigation,  had they  been  known  then  to 
exist. Thus it is not a question of extension of the scope of the proceeding but merely 
a clarification  of the product  definition. 

(18)  From a technical point of view, the four-CCD camera is a like product. Ikegami's new 
four-CCD camera offers an equivalent performance, compared to the three-CCD camera 
system,  since the addition  of  one  CCD does not bring  any  substantial  change to the 
technology  employed  in three-CCD cameras.  It can be concluded that the four-CCD 
camera is only one possible technical solution to be regarded as an "internal" evolution 
which has been developed by one competitor in order to face growing competition and 
technical  complexity in the camera market. 

(19)  From a market perspective, the four-CCD camera does not target a separate new market 
segment, being a broadcast product which will be potentially bought by the same users 
which are currently using three-CCD broadcast cameras. 

(20)  For the reasons stated above, four-CCD cameras should be subject to the anti-dumping 
duty imposed. Therefore Regulation (EC) No 1015/94 should be amended accordingly. 

(21)  Since the scope of the review has been limited to the issue of the classification  of new 
products, the conclusion of this review should not affect the determination of the expiry 
date  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1015/94  under  Article  15(1)  of  Regulation  (EEC) 
No 2423/88, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Regulation (EC) No  1015/94 is amended as folows: 

Article 1 

1. 

In point (a) of Article 1(2), the words "three sensors" are replaced by the words "three 
or more sensors". 

2. 

The Annex is replaced by the Annex hereto. 

Article % 

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

However,  point 2 of Article  1 shall  apply with effect  from  1 May 1994. 

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

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

Company 
name 

Camera heads 

Viewfinder 

Camera control 
unit 

Operational 
control unit 

Camera adaptors 

Master 
control 
unit(*) 

ANNEX 

CCU-M3P 
CCU-M5P 
CCU-M7P 

RM-M7G 

CA-325P 
CA-325AP 
CA-325B 
CA-327P 
CA-537P 
CA-511 
CA-512P 
CA-513 

DXF-3000CE 
DXF-325CE 
DXF-5Q1CE 
DXF-M3CE 
DXF-M7CE 
DXF-40CE 
DXF-40ACE 
DXF-50CE 
DXF-601CE 
DXF-40BCE 
DXF-50BCE 

BONY 

DXC-M7PH 
DXC-M7P 
DXC-M7PH 
DXC-M7PK/1 
DXC-M7P/1 
DXC-M7PH/1 
DXC-327PK 
DXC-327PL 
DXC-327PH 
DXC-327APK 
DXC-327APL 
DXC-327AH 
DXC-537PK 
DXC-537PL 
DXC-537PH 
DXC-537APK 
DXC-537APL 
DXC-537APH 
EVW-537PK 
EVW-327PK 
DXC-637P 
DXC-«37PK 
DXC-637PL 
DXC-637PH 
PVW-637PK 
PVW-637PL 

DKEGAMI  HC-340 
HC-300 
HC-230 
HC-240 
HC-210 
BC-390 

VF15-21/22 
VF-4523 
VF 15-39 

MA-200/230 

lRCU-240 

CA-340 
CA-300 
CA-230 
CA-390 

Company 
name 

Camera heads 

Viewfinder 

Camera control 
unit 

Operational 
control unit 

Camera adaptors 

Master 
control 
unit(*) 

GM-5 (A) 
GM-5-R2 (A) 
GM-5-R2 
GM-50 

RU-Z1 (B) 
RU-Z1 (C) 
RU-Z1 
RC-C11 
RU-Z2 
RC-Z1 
RC-ZH 
RC-Z2 
RC-Z21 

CA-Z1 
CA-Z2 
CA-Z1SJ 
CA-Z1SP 
CA-Z1M 
CA-Z1M2 
CA-Z1HB 
CA-C10 
CA-C10SP 
CA-C10SJA 
CA-C10M 
CA-C10B 

HITACHI 

Z-ONE 
Z-ONE A (L) 
Z-ONE A (H) 
Z-ONE A (F) 
Z-ONE A 
Z-ONE B (L) 
Z-ONE B (H) 
Z-ONE B  (F) 
Z-ONE B 
ZONE  B (M) 
Z-ONE B (R) 
FP-C10 (B) 
FP-C10 (C) 
FP-C10 (D) 
FP-C10 (G) 
FP-C10 (L) 
FP-C10 (R) 
FP-C10 (S) 
FP-C10 (V) 
FP-C10(F) 
FP-C10 
FP-C10A 
FP-C10 A (A) 
FP-C10 A (B) 
FP-C10 A (C) 
FP-C10 A (D) 
FP-CÎ0 A (F) 
FP-C10 A (G) 
FP-C10 A (H) 
FP-C10 A (L) 
FP-C10 A (R) 
FP-C10 A (S) 
FP-C10 A (T) 
FP-C10 A (V) 
FP-C10 A (W) 
Z-ONE C (M) 

Company 
name 

Camera heads 

Viewfinder 

Camera control unit  Operational 
control unit 

Camera adaptors 

Master 
control 
unit(*) 

HTTA 
CHI 
(cont'd) 

Z-ONE C (R) 
Z-ONE  C(F) 
Z-ONE C 
HV-C20 
HV-C20M 
Z-ONE-D 
Z-ONE-D (A) 
Z-ONE-D (B) 
Z-ONE-D (C) 

10 

Company|Camera heads 

Viewfinder 

name 

Camera control unit  Operational 
contorl unit 

Camera adaptors 

Master 
control 
unit(*) 

WV-VF65BE 
WV-VF40E 
WV-VF65BE 
WV-VF39E 
WV-VF65BE 
WV-VF40E 
WV-VF65BE* 
WV-VF40E* 
WV-VF42E 

MATSUWV-
SHITA  WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV-
WV 

F700 
F700A 
F700SHE 
F700ASHE 
F700BHE 
F700ABHE 
•F700MHE 
•F350 
•F350HE 
•F350E 
•F350AE 
•F350DE 
•F350ADE 
•F500HE* 
-F-S6SHE 

WV-RC700/B 
WV-RC700/G 
WV-RC700A/B 
WV-RC700A/G 
WV-RC36/B 
WV-RC36/G 
WV-RC37/B 
WV-RC37/G 
WV-CB700E 
WV-CB700AE 
WV-CB700E* 
WV-CB700AE* 
WV-RC700/B* 
WV-RC700/G* 
WV-RC700A/B* 
WV-RC700A/G* 
WV-RC550/G 
WV-RC550/B 

0VC 

VF-P31E 
VF-P550E 
VF-P10E 
VP-P115E 
VF-P400E 
VP-P550BE 

KY-35E 
KY-27ECH 
KY-19ECH 
KY-17FITECH 
KY-17BECH 
KY-F30FTTE 
KY-F30BE 
KY-27CECH 
KH-100U 

RM-P350EG 
RM-P200EG 
RM-P300EG 
RM-LP80E 
RM-LP821E 
RM-LP35U 
RM-LP37U 
RM-P270EG 

(*) 

Also called Master setup unit (MSU) or Master control panel eMCP) 

WV-AD700SE 
WV-AD700ASE 
WV-AD700ME 
WV-AD250E 
WV-AD500E* 

KA-35E 
KA-B35U 
KA-M35U 
KA-P35U 
(CA-27E 
KA-20E 
KA-P27U 
KA-P20U 
KA-B27E 
KA-B20E 
KA-M20E 
KA-M27E 

11 

ISSN  0254-1475 

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