In view of the potentially large number of exporting producers in the Mainland of China involved in the proceeding and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may apply sampling. To enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all exporting producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, should make themselves known to the Commission by providing information on their company(ies) requested in Annex A to the notice, including, inter alia, contact details, turnover and sales volume, activities of their company/related companies and indication of agreement to their possible inclusion in the sample which will involve completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at their premises to verify their responses. Such information should reach the Commission within 15 days from 27 April 2013, unless otherwise specified.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days from 27 April 2013, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the exporting producers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of exports to the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known exporting producers, the authorities of the Mainland of China and associations of exporting producers will be notified by the Commission, via the authorities of the Mainland of China if appropriate, of the companies selected to be in the sample. All exporting producers selected to be in the sample and the authorities of the Mainland of China will have to submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

Companies that have agreed to their possible inclusion in the sample but are not selected will be considered to be cooperating ("non-sampled cooperating exporting producers"). Non-sampled cooperating exporting producers wishing to claim an individual subsidy margin must request a questionnaire and return it duly completed within 37 days from the date of notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

Exporting producers claiming an individual subsidy margin should be aware that the Commission may nonetheless decide not to determine their individual subsidy margin if, for instance, the number of exporting producers is so large that such determination would be unduly burdensome and would prevent the timely completion of the investigation.

In order to determine injury based on, inter alia, positive evidence and objective examination of the volume of the subsidised imports, and in view of the large number of Union producers involved in this proceeding, the Commission has decided to apply sampling, and provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days from 27 April 2013, unless otherwise specified.

All interested parties may make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence within 37 days from 27 April 2013, unless otherwise specified.

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation, the request must be submitted within 15 days from 27 April 2013. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

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 contact the Commission. 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 (DG Trade):
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/tackling-unfair-trade/trade-defence.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate H
Office: N105 08/020
1049 Brussels
Belgium

Fax +32 22993704
 

E-mail for submissions related to the subsidy side of the investigation (exporting producers in the Mainland of China) :
trade-as-solarglass-subsidy@ec.europa.eu

E-mail for submissions related to the injury side of the investigation (Union producers, importers, users) :
trade-as-solarglass-injury@ec.europa.eu

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer of DG Trade, who acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services through reviewing 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. A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of investigation, the request must be submitted within 15 days from 27 April 2013. For further information and contact details, interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on DG Trade's website:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/tackling-unfair-trade/hearing-officer/index_en.htm.