Commission Decision of 20 January 2006 granting certain parties an exemption from the extension to certain bicycle parts of the anti-dumping duty on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93, last maintained and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005, and lifting the suspension of the payment of the anti-dumping duty extended to certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China granted to certain parties pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97 (notified under document number C(2006) 54) (2006/22/EC)

Commission Decision

of 20 January 2006

granting certain parties an exemption from the extension to certain bicycle parts of the anti-dumping duty on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93, last maintained and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005, and lifting the suspension of the payment of the anti-dumping duty extended to certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China granted to certain parties pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97

(notified under document number C(2006) 54)

(2006/22/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

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 Council Regulation (EC) No 71/97(2) of 10 January 1997 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 on bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China to imports of certain bicycle parts from the People’s Republic of China, and levying the extended duty on such imports registered under Regulation (EC) No 703/96 (the extending Regulation), maintained by Regulation (EC) No 1524/2000(3) and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005(4),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 88/97(5) of 20 January 1997 on the authorisation of the exemption of imports of certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China from the extension by Council Regulation (EC) No 71/97 of the anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 (the exemption Regulation), maintained by Regulation (EC) No 1524/2000 and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1095/2005, and in particular Article 7 thereof,

After consulting the Advisory Committee,

Whereas:

(1) After the entry into force of the exemption Regulation, a number of bicycle assemblers submitted requests pursuant to Article 3 of that Regulation for exemption from the anti-dumping duty, as extended to imports of certain bicycle parts from the People’s Republic of China by Regulation (EC) No 71/97 (the extended anti-dumping duty). The Commission has published, in the Official Journal, successive lists of applicants(6) for which the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty in respect of their imports of essential bicycle parts declared for free circulation was suspended pursuant to Article 5(1) of the exemption Regulation.

(2) Following the last publication of the list of parties under examination(7), a period of examination has been selected. This period was defined as from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 for parties located in the 15 Member States prior to enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004, and from 1 May 2004 to 31 December 2004 for parties located in the new Member States. A questionnaire was sent to all parties under examination, requesting information on the assembly operations conducted during the relevant period of examination.

A. REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION FOR WHICH SUSPENSION WAS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED

A.1. Acceptable requests for exemption

(3) The Commission received from the parties listed in table 1 below all the information required for the determination of the admissibility of their requests. The information provided was examined and verified, where necessary, at the premises of the parties concerned. Based on this information, the Commission found that the requests submitted by the parties listed in table 1 below are admissible pursuant to Article 4(1) of the exemption Regulation.

Table 1

Name	Address	Country	TARIC additional code
4EVER s.r.o.	2. května 267, CZ-742 13 Studénka	Czech Republic	A558
Accell Hunland Kft.	Parkoló tér 1., H-1059 Tószeg	Hungary	A534
AMP Welding, s.r.o.	Orlové 165, SK-01701 Považská Bystrica	Slovak Republic	A572
Bike Fun International s.r.o.	Štefánikova 1163, CZ-742 21 Kopřivnice	Czech Republic	A536
BPS Bicycle Industrial s.r.o.	Šumavská 779/2, CZ-787 01 Šumperk	Czech Republic	A537
CAPRI-Ne Kft.	Kiskút útja 1., H-8000 Székesfehérvár	Hungary	A562
Ciclo Meccanica Srl	Via delle Industrie 14 I-20050 Sulbiate (MI)	Italy	A170
EURO.T POLSKA Sp. z o.o.	ul. Drogowców 12, PL-42-200 Częstochowa	Poland	A549
Eurobik, s.r.o.	Bardejovská 36, SK-080 06 Prešov	Slovak Republic	A575
EXPLORER group s.r.o.	CZ-742 67 Ženklava 167	Czech Republic	A563
Falter Bike GmbH & Co. KG	Bunzlauer Straße 15, D-33719 Bielefeld	Germany	A125
FHMM Sp. z o.o.	ul. Ciecholowicka 29, 55-120 Oborniki Śląskie	Poland	A548
IB Sp. z o.o.	Zakład Pracy Chronionej, ul. Miłośników Podhala 1, PL-34-425 Biały Dunajec	Poland	A539
IDEAL EUROPE Sp. z o.o.	ul. Metalowa 11, PL-99-300 Kutno	Poland	A540
Jan Zasada Biuro Ekonomiczno-Handlowe	ul. Fabryczna 6, PL-98-300 Wieluń	Poland	A542
Jozef Kender-Kenzel	Imeľ č. 830, SK-946 52 Imeľ	Slovak Republic	A557
KROSS S.A.	ul. Leszno 46, PL-06-300 Przasnysz	Poland	A543
Mama spol. s.r.o.	Krajinská 1, SK-921 01 Piešťany	Slovak Republic	A551
Master Bike, s.r.o.	Sadová 2, CZ-789 01 Zábřeh na Moravě	Czech Republic	A552
N.V. Race Productions	Ambachtstraat 19, B-3980 Tessenderlo	Belgium	A576
Neuzer Kerékpár Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft.	Eötvös u. 48., H-2500 Esztergom	Hungary	A545
Novus Bike s.r.o.	Hlavní 266, CZ-747 81 Otice	Czech Republic	A553
Olimpia Kerékpár Kft.	Ostorhegy u. 4., H-1164 Budapest	Hungary	A554
Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo Produkcyjne UNIBIKE Jerzy Orłowski, Piotr Drobotowski Sp. Jawna	ul. Przemysłowa 28B, PL-85-758 Bydgoszcz	Poland	A556
Schwinn-Csepel Kerékpárgyártó és Forgalmazó Rt.	Gyepsor u. 1., H-1211 Budapest	Hungary	A555
Sprick Rowery Sp. z o.o.	ul. Świerczewskiego 76, PL-66-200 Świebodzin	Poland	A571
Trade-Stomil Sp. z o.o.	ul. 6 Sierpnia 74, PL-90-646 Łódź	Poland	A574
UAB Baltik Vairas	Pramonės g. 3, LT-78138 Šiauliai	Lithuania	A547
Zweirad Paulsen	Hauptstraße 80, D-49635 Badbergen	Germany	A566

(4) The facts as finally ascertained by the Commission show that for all these applicants’ bicycle assembly operations, the value of the parts originating in the People’s Republic of China which were used in their assembly operations was lower than 60 % of the total value of the parts used in these assembly operations, and they, therefore, fall outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation.

(5) For the above reason, and in accordance with Article 7(1) of the exemption Regulation, the parties listed in the above table should be exempt from the extended anti-dumping duty.

(6) In accordance with Article 7(2) of the exemption Regulation, the exemption of the parties listed in table 1 from the extended anti-dumping duty should take effect as from the date of receipt of their requests. In addition, their customs debt in respect of the extended anti-dumping duty is to be considered void as from the date of receipt of their requests for exemption.

(7) It is to be noted that the following five parties listed in table 1 informed the Commission services of a change in their name and/or in their legal seat, or transfer of economic activity, during the examination period:

• ‘AB Baltik Vairas, Tilžės g. 74, 5410 Šiauliai, Lithuania’, changed its name and transferred its legal seat to ‘UAB Baltik Vairas, Pramonės g. 3, 78138, Lithuania’;

• ‘EXPLORER Bike s.r.o., Štefánikova 1163, 742 21 Kopřivnice, Czech Republic’, changed its name and transferred its legal seat to ‘EXPLORER Group s.r.o., Ženklava 167, 742 67 Ženklava, Czech Republic’;

• ‘Firma Handlowa Marta Majcher, ul. Małomicka 48/1, 59-300 Lubin, Poland’, transferred its economic activity to ‘FHMM Sp. z o.o., ul. Ciechelowicka 29, 55-120 Oborniki Śląskie, Poland’;

• ‘KROSS Sp. z o.o., Ul. Leszno 46, 06-300 Przasnysz, Poland’, changed its name into ‘KROSS S.A., Ul. Leszno 46, 06-300 Przasnysz, Poland’;

• ‘Master Bike, s.r.o., Písařov 86, 789 91 Písařov, Czech Republic’, transferred its legal seat to ‘Sadová 2, 789 01 Zábřeh na Moravě, Czech Republic’.

(8) It has been established that these changes in the name and/or legal seat and transfer of economic activity did not affect the assembly operations with regard to the stipulations of the exemption Regulation and therefore the Commission does not consider that these changes should affect the exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty.

A.2. Unacceptable requests for exemption and withdrawals

(9) The parties listed in table 2 below also submitted requests for exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty.

Table 2

Name	Address	Country	TARIC additional code
Czech Bike, a.s.	Palackého 82, CZ-612 00 Brno	Czech Republic	A560
MEMO cz, s.r.o.	Jungmannova 319, CZ-506 01 Jičín	Czech Republic	A544
Special Bike di Diciolla Francesco	Via dei Mille 50, I-71042 Cerignola (Foggia)	Italy	A533
Winora Staiger GmbH	Max-Planck-Straße 6, D-97526 Sennfeld	Germany	A559

(10) The on-the-spot verifications at the premises of one party revealed that it failed to keep certain specific records and to provide detailed information necessary to the granting of the exemption. In particular, information related to the origin of the bicycle parts used in the assembly operations, as required by Article 6(2) of the exemption Regulation, could not be verified. The party was informed that it was intended to reject its request, and subsequently submitted comments in writing. However, it did not provide any additional verifiable evidence to support its arguments.

(11) Another party withdrew its request for exemption and informed the Commission accordingly.

(12) Another party failed to submit the requested information required for the examination of its request. For this reason, and in accordance with Article 7(3) of the exemption Regulation, the Commission informed this party that it intended to reject its request for exemption. This party was given an opportunity to comment. No comments were received.

(13) Another party did not use the bicycle parts for the production or assembly of bicycles during the examination period, which constitutes a breach of the obligations set out in Article 6(2) of the exemption Regulation. The party was informed accordingly and submitted comments in writing. However, since this information related to a period subsequent to the examination period, it could not be taken into account pursuant to Article 6(1) of the basic Regulation.

(14) Since the parties listed in table 2 failed to meet the criteria for exemption set by Article 6(2) of the exemption Regulation, the Commission has to reject their requests for exemption, in accordance with Article 7(3) of the Regulation. In the light of this, the suspension of the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty referred to in Article 5 of the exemption Regulation must be lifted and the extended anti-dumping duty must be collected as from the date of receipt of the requests submitted by these parties.

A.3. Requests for exemption requiring further examination

(15) The parties listed in table 3 below also submitted requests for exemption from the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty.

Table 3

Name	Address	Country	TARIC additional code
ARKUS Sp. z o.o.	Podgrodzie 32c, PL-39-200 Dębica	Poland	A565
Athletic International Sp. z o.o.	ul. Drawska 21, PL-02-202 Warszawa	Poland	A568
BELVE s.r.o.	Palkovičova 5, SK-915 01 Nové Mesto nad Váhom	Slovak Republic	A535
ROG Kolesa, d.d.	Letališka 29, SI-1000 Ljubljana	Slovenia	A538
Fabryka Rowerów Romet-Jastrowie Sp. z o.o.	ul. Naturowicza 14, PL-64-915 Jastrowie	Poland	A564
ISTRO-HGA, spol. s.r.o.	Svätopeterská 14, SK-947 01 Hurbanovo	Slovak Republic	A541
OLPRAN, spol. s.r.o.	Libušina 101, CZ-772 11 Olomouc	Czech Republic	A546

(16) It is to be noted that ‘ROG Kolesa, d.d., Letališka 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia’ listed in table 3 informed the Commission services of a change in name from ‘ELAN Bikes, d.d.’ to ‘ROG Kolesa, d.d.’. It has been established that this change in the name did not affect the request for exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty.

(17) With regard to these requests, it should be noted that, because of particular circumstances relating to the changed corporate structure of some of the companies, it was not possible for the Commission to determine whether the assembly operations of these parties fell outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation for the period of examination.

(18) As regards one party, the Commission services could not verify the questionnaire data on the spot since the essential accounting documents necessary to the granting of the exemption were kept by the Settlement Senate of the District Court. This Court received the accounting records of this party in the framework of a compulsory settlement plan.

(19) Two of the parties merged into a new legal entity. Since this event occurred after the submission of the questionnaire response, the Commission was not in a position to verify whether the assembly operations of the new legal entity fell outside the scope of the Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation.

(20) Another party has imported parts during the period of examination, but it had only started its assembly operations after the period of examination.

(21) With regard to the three remaining parties, it was not possible during the verification visit to determine the ratio of the value of the bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China in the total value of the bicycle parts used in the assembly operations for the period of examination since, the parties used a very large number of parts purchased prior to enlargement in their assembly operations.

(22) In light of the above, the parties listed in table 3 should be maintained in the list of parties under examination. The payment of the anti-dumping duty in respect of the imports of essential bicycle parts declared for free circulation by these parties should remain suspended.

B. REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION FOR WHICH SUSPENSION WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY GRANTED

B.1. Inadmissible requests for exemption

(23) The parties listed in table 4 also submitted requests for exemption from the payment of the extended anti-dumping duty:

Table 4

Name	Address	Country
Avex Kft.	Csenterics u. 3., H-2440 Százhalombatta	Hungary
Ets Duret	8, rue de Clémont, F-18410 Argent sur Sauldre	France
P.P.H.U. Interbike	ul. Drogowców 12, PL-42-200 Częstochowa	Poland
P.P.U.H. POL-FOX	ul. Tenisowa 81, PL-42-200 Częstochowa	Poland
Unimex	Domburgseweg 87, 4356 BK Oostkapelle, Nederland	The Netherlands

(24) With regard to these parties, it should be noted that their requests did not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Article 4(1) of the exemption Regulation.

(25) Two applicants use essential bicycle parts for the production or assembly of bicycles in quantities below 300 units per type on a monthly basis.

(26) Three applicants did not provide prima facie evidence that their assembly operations fall outside the scope of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation, notably the value of the parts originating in the People’s Republic of China, which were used in their assembly operations, was higher than 60 % of the total value of the parts used in these assembly operations.

(27) These parties were informed accordingly and were given an opportunity to comment. No comments were received. Accordingly, no suspension was granted to these parties.

B.2. Admissible requests for exemption for which suspension should be granted

(28) Interested parties are hereby informed of the receipt of further requests for exemption, pursuant to Article 3 of the exemption Regulation, from parties listed in table 5. The suspension from the extended duty, following these requests, should take effect as shown in the column headed ‘Date of effect’:

Table 5

Name	Address	Country	Suspension pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97	Date of effect	TARIC additional code
A.J. Maias Lda	Estrada Nacional N.o 1, Malaposta, Apart. 27, P-3781-908 Sangalhos	Portugal	Article 5	23.2.2005	A401
Avantisbike — Fabrico de Bicicletas S.A.	Rua do Casarão, P-3750-869 Borralha	Portugal	Article 5	10.11.2005	A726
Bike Mate s.r.o.	Dlhá 248/43, SK-905 01 Senica	Slovak Republic	Article 5	8.10.2004	A589
Bike Sport	Krzemionka 14, PL-62-872 Godziesze	Poland	Article 5	3.1.2005	A593
Cannondale Europe B.V.	Hanzepoort 27, 7575 DB Oldenzaal, Nederland	The Netherlands	Article 5	21.6.2005	A686
Cseke Trade Kft.	Gyepsor u. 1., H-1211 Budapest	Hungary	Article 5	21.4.2005	A685
C-TRADING, s.r.o.	V. Palkovicha 19, SK-946 03 Kolárovo	Slovak Republic	Article 5	10.2.2005	A662
Decathlon Sp. z o.o.	ul. Malborska 53, PL-03-286 Warszawa	Poland	Article 5	19.8.2005	A696
Eurobike Kft.	Zengő utca 58., H-7693 Pécs-Hird	Hungary	Article 5	28.1.2005	A624
Firma Wielobranżowa ART-POL Artur Nowak	ul. Homera 4/20, PL-42-200 Częstochowa	Poland	Article 5	22.9.2005	A697
Hermann Hartje KG	Deichstraße 120—122, D-27318 Hoya/Weser	Germany	Article 5	7.11.2005	A725
Koliken Kft.	Széchenyi u. 103., H-6400 Kiskunhalas	Hungary	Article 5	8.11.2004	A616
Koninklijke Gazelle B.V.	Wilhelminaweg 8, 6951 BP Dieren, Nederland	The Netherlands	Article 5	29.6.2005	8609
Kynast Bike GmbH	Artlandstraße 55, D-49610 Quakenbrück	Germany	Article 5	29.7.2005	A692
Manufacture de Cycles du Comminges	Z.I. Ouest, F-31800 Saint-Gaudens	France	Article 5	29.6.2005	A690
Maver Sp. z o.o.	ul. Przasnysza 77, 06-200 Maków Mazowiecki	Poland	Article 5	19.10.2005	A728
Maxbike s.r.o.	Svatoplukova 2771, CZ-700 30 Ostrava-Vítkovice	Czech Republic	Article 5	3.1.2005	A664
Muller Sport Bohemia s.r.o.	Okružní 110 Hlincová Hora, CZ-373 71 Rudolfov	Czech Republic	Article 5	8.11.2004	A605
P.W.U.H. Sterna	ul. Lotników 51, PL-73-102 Stargard Szczeciński	Poland	Article 5	2.2.2005	A631
PFIFF Vertriebs GmbH	Wilhelmstraße 58, D-49610 Quakenbrück	Germany	Article 5	6.4.2005	A668
TIESSE Snc di Tosato Virginio & C.	Via Meucci 12, I-35030 Caselle di Selvazzano Dentro (PD)	Italy	Article 5	24.10.2005	A724
TOLIN Przedsiębiorstwo Prywatne Jerzy Topolski	Łęg Witoszyn, PL-87-811 Fabianki	Poland	Article 5	10.9.2004	A586
Victus International Trading S.A.	ul. Naramowicka 150, PL-61-619 Poznań	Poland	Article 5	11.10.2004	A588
Vizija Sport d.o.o.	Tržaska cesta 87b, SI-1370 Logatec	Slovenia	Article 5	24.1.2005	A630

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(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 16, 18.1.1997, p. 55.

(3)

OJ L 175, 14.7.2000, p. 39.

(4)

OJ L 183, 14.7.2005, p. 1.

(5)

OJ L 17, 21.1.1997, p. 17.

(6)

OJ C 45, 13.2.1997, p. 3, OJ C 112, 10.4.1997, p. 9, OJ C 220, 19.7.1997, p. 6, OJ C 378, 13.12.1997, p. 2, OJ C 217, 11.7.1998, p. 9, OJ C 37, 11.2.1999, p. 3, OJ C 186, 2.7.1999, p. 6, OJ C 216, 28.7.2000, p. 8, OJ C 170, 14.6.2001, p. 5, OJ C 103, 30.4.2002, p. 2, OJ C 35, 14.2.2003, p. 3, OJ C 43, 22.2.2003, p. 5, OJ C 54, 2.3.2004, p. 2 and OJ C 299, 4.12.2004, p. 4.

(7)

OJ C 299, 4.12.2004, p. 4.