[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9979-9980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5015]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[A-403-801]


Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon From Norway; Final Results of 
Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of final results of changed circumstances antidumping 
duty administrative review.

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SUMMARY: On September 23, 1998, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') published the notice of initiation and preliminary 
results of its changed circumstances administrative review concerning 
whether Kinn Salmon A/S (``Kinn'') is the successor firm to Skaarfish 
Group A/S (``Skaarfish''). We have now completed that review. We have 
determined that Kinn is the successor firm to Skaarfish.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Peterson or Thomas Futtner, 
Office of AD/CVD Enforcement, Import Administration, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-
4195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Applicable Statute and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are 
references to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective 
date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') by 
the Uruguay Round Agreement Act. In addition, unless otherwise 
indicated, all citations to the Department's regulations are to the 
regulations codified at 19 CFR part 351 (1998).

Background

    In a letter dated March 2, 1998, Kinn advised the Department that 
on July 1, 1997, the former Skaarfish reorganized to form two firms, 
Skaarfish Pelagisk AS and Kinn Salmon. Kinn requested that the 
Department conduct a changed circumstances administrative review 
pursuant to section 751(b) of the Act to determine whether Kinn should 
properly be considered the successor firm to Skaarfish. Kinn stated 
that the salmon activities of Skaarfish including processing, marketing 
and exporting were transferred to Kinn Salmon AS. Skaarfish Pelagisk AS 
oversees the processing, marketing and exporting activities of all 
other types of fish. Kinn stated that its operations are a direct 
continuation of the salmon related activities performed by Skaarfish. 
While the board of directors has changed, the officers and management 
of Kinn are virtually identical to the officers and management of 
Skaarfish. Kinn stated that the address, telephone numbers and telefax 
numbers are the same as those of Skaarfish. Furthermore, it operates 
the same facilities in Floro, Norway that were operated by Skaarfish 
for the processing of salmon and conducts business operations at the 
same executive offices used by Skaarfish. It provided documentation 
showing that the customer list for Kinn and the supplier list to Kinn 
is the same as the customer and supplier lists for Skaarfish. Kinn 
submitted a copy of The Certificates of Registration of Skaarfish, 
Skaarfish Pelagisk AS, and Kinn Salmon AS that it filed with the 
Register of Business Enterprises in Norway.
    On September 23, 1998, the Department published in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 50880) the notice of initiation and preliminary results 
of its changed circumstances antidumping duty administrative review of 
fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon from Norway. We have now completed 
this changed circumstances review in accordance with section 751(b) of 
the Act.

Scope of the Review

    The merchandise covered by this review is fresh and chilled 
Atlantic salmon (``salmon''). It encompasses the species of Atlantic 
salmon (``Salmo salar'') marketed as specified herein; the subject 
merchandise excludes all other species of salmon: Danube salmon; 
Chinook (also called ``king'' or ``quinnat''); Coho (``silver''); 
Sockeye (``redfish'' or ``blueback''); Humpback (``pink''); and Chum 
(``dog''). Atlantic salmon is whole or nearly whole fish, typically 
(but not necessarily) marketed gutted, bled, and cleaned, with the head 
on. The subject merchandise is typically packed in fresh water ice 
(``chilled''). Excluded from the subject merchandise are fillets, 
steaks, and other cuts of Atlantic salmon. Also excluded are frozen, 
canned, smoked or otherwise processed Atlantic salmon. Fresh and 
chilled Atlantic salmon is currently provided for under Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheading 0302.12.00.02.09. The HTS item number 
is provided for convenience and Customs purposes. The written 
description remains dispositive.

Successorship

    In considering questions involving successorship, the Department 
examines several factors including, but not

[[Page 9980]]

limited to, changes in (1) management, (2) production facilities, (3) 
supplier relationships, and (4) customer base. See, e.g., Brass Sheet 
and Strip from Canada; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, 57 FR 20460 (1992). While no one or several of these factors 
will necessarily provide a dispositive indication, the Department will 
generally consider the new company to be the successor to the previous 
company if its resulting operation is essentially the same as its 
predecessor. See, e.g., Industrial Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final 
Results of Changed Circumstances Review, 59 FR 6944 (February 14, 
1994). Thus, if evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the 
production and sale of the subject merchandise, the new company 
operates as the same entity as the former company, the Department will 
treat the successor company the same as the predecessor for antidumping 
purposes, e.g., assign the same cash deposit rate, apply any relevant 
revocation.
    We have examined the information provided by Kinn in its March 2, 
1998, letter and determined that Kinn is the successor-in-interest to 
Skaarfish. The management and organizational structure of the former 
Skaarfish have remained intact under Kinn, and there have been no 
changes in the production facilities, supplier relationships, or 
customer base. Therefore, we determine that Kinn has maintained the 
same management, production facilities, supplier relationships, and 
customer bases as did Skaarfish.

Comments

    Although we gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on 
the preliminary results, none were submitted.

Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review

    We determine that Kinn is the successor-in-interest to Skaarfish 
for antidumping duty cash deposit purposes. Kinn, therefore, will be 
assigned the Skaarfish antidumping cash deposit rate of 2.30 percent. 
This deposit requirement will apply to all unliquidated entries of the 
subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after July 1, 1997, the date on which the corporate 
name change legally took effect. This deposit rate shall remain in 
effect until publication of the final results of the next 
administrative review.
    This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding 
the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the 
relevant entries. Failure to comply with this requirement could result 
in the Secretary's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties 
occurred and subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.
    This changed circumstances review and notice are in accordance with 
section 751(b) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1675(b)), and 19 CFR 
351.216.

    Dated: February 23, 1999.
Holly A. Kuga,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-5015 Filed 2-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P