CELEX: 51995PC0420
Language: en
Date: 1995-09-18
Title: 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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 ir    *
ir      *
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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)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                         EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 1015/94, imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty
   on imports of television camera systems originating in Japan.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
 ---pagebreak---                                          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 subsidized imports from countries not members of the
European Economic Community0**, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 522/94<4), and in
particular Article 14 thereof,
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, Ikegami, announced the introduction into 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
(i)    OJNoL349, 31.12.1994, p. 1.
(2)
       O J N o L 122, 2.6.1995, p. 1.
(3)
       OJNoL209, 2.8.1988, p. 1.
(4)
       O J N 0 L 6 6 , 10.3.1994, p. 10.
(5)
       OJNoL 111, 30.4.1994, p. 106.
 ---pagebreak---     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.
 ---pagebreak---      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.
 ---pagebreak---      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.
 ---pagebreak--- (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:
                                             Article 1
Regulation (EC) No 1015/94 is amended as folows:
 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
 ---pagebreak---                                                                             ANNEX
 Company   Camera heads     Viewfinder  Camera control   Operational   Master   Camera adaptors
  name                                      unit          control unit control
                                                                       unit(*)
BONY     DXC-M7PH       DXF-3000CE     CCU-M3P          RM-M7G                 CA-325P
         DXC-M7P        DXF-325CE      CCU-M5P                                 CA-325AP
         DXC-M7PH       DXF-5Q1CE      CCU-M7P                                 CA-325B
         DXC-M7PK/1     DXF-M3CE                                               CA-327P
         DXC-M7P/1      DXF-M7CE                                               CA-537P
         DXC-M7PH/1     DXF-40CE                                               CA-511
         DXC-327PK      DXF-40ACE                                              CA-512P
         DXC-327PL      DXF-50CE                                               CA-513
         DXC-327PH      DXF-601CE
         DXC-327APK     DXF-40BCE
         DXC-327APL     DXF-50BCE
         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          VF15-21/22     MA-200/230      lRCU-240                CA-340
         HC-300         VF-4523                                                CA-300
         HC-230         VF 15-39                                               CA-230
         HC-240                                                                CA-390
         HC-210
         BC-390
 ---pagebreak--- Company    Camera heads    Viewfinder  Camera control Operational  Master Camera adaptors
  name                                      unit      control unit control
                                                                   unit(*)
HITACHI Z-ONE           GM-5 (A)      RU-Z1 (B)                            CA-Z1
        Z-ONE A (L)     GM-5-R2 (A)   RU-Z1 (C)                            CA-Z2
        Z-ONE A (H)     GM-5-R2       RU-Z1                                CA-Z1SJ
        Z-ONE A (F)     GM-50         RC-C11                               CA-Z1SP
        Z-ONE A                       RU-Z2                                CA-Z1M
        Z-ONE B (L)                   RC-Z1                                CA-Z1M2
        Z-ONE B (H)                   RC-ZH                                CA-Z1HB
        Z-ONE B (F)                   RC-Z2                                CA-C10
        Z-ONE B                       RC-Z21                               CA-C10SP
        ZONE B (M)                                                         CA-C10SJA
        Z-ONE B (R)                                                        CA-C10M
        FP-C10 (B)                                                         CA-C10B
        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)
 ---pagebreak---  Company   Camera heads Viewfinder Camera control unit Operational  Master  Camera adaptors
   name                                                control unit control
                                                                    unit(*)
HTTA     Z-ONE C (R)
CHI      Z-ONE C(F)
(cont'd) Z-ONE C
         HV-C20
         HV-C20M
         Z-ONE-D
         Z-ONE-D (A)
         Z-ONE-D (B)
         Z-ONE-D (C)
                                           10
 ---pagebreak--- Company|Camera heads            Viewfinder     Camera control unit    Operational  Master   Camera adaptors
  name                                                                contorl unit control
                                                                                   unit(*)
MATSUWV- F700               WV-VF65BE          WV-RC700/B                                  WV-AD700SE
SHITA WV-F700A              WV-VF40E           WV-RC700/G                                  WV-AD700ASE
        WV-F700SHE          WV-VF65BE          WV-RC700A/B                                 WV-AD700ME
        WV-F700ASHE         WV-VF39E           WV-RC700A/G                                 WV-AD250E
        WV-F700BHE          WV-VF65BE          WV-RC36/B                                   WV-AD500E*
        WV-F700ABHE         WV-VF40E           WV-RC36/G
        WV-•F700MHE         WV-VF65BE*         WV-RC37/B
        WV-•F350            WV-VF40E*          WV-RC37/G
        WV-•F350HE          WV-VF42E           WV-CB700E
        WV-•F350E                              WV-CB700AE
        WV-•F350AE                             WV-CB700E*
        WV-•F350DE                             WV-CB700AE*
        WV-•F350ADE                            WV-RC700/B*
        WV-•F500HE*                            WV-RC700/G*
        WV -F-S6SHE                            WV-RC700A/B*
                                               WV-RC700A/G*
                                               WV-RC550/G
                                               WV-RC550/B
0VC     KY-35E              VF-P31E            RM-P350EG                                   KA-35E
        KY-27ECH            VF-P550E            RM-P200EG                                  KA-B35U
        KY-19ECH            VF-P10E             RM-P300EG                                  KA-M35U
        KY-17FITECH         VP-P115E            RM-LP80E                                   KA-P35U
        KY-17BECH           VF-P400E            RM-LP821E                                  (CA-27E
        KY-F30FTTE          VP-P550BE           RM-LP35U                                   KA-20E
        KY-F30BE                                RM-LP37U                                   KA-P27U
        KY-27CECH                               RM-P270EG                                  KA-P20U
        KH-100U                                                                            KA-B27E
                                                                                           KA-B20E
                                                                                           KA-M20E
                                                                                           KA-M27E
(*)      Also called Master setup unit (MSU) or Master control panel eMCP)
                                                         11
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN 0254-1475
                                                             COM(95) 420 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                        02 11
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-462-EN-C
                                                              ISBN 92-77-93248-1
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