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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-21032026-271117
EXTRAORDINARY
PART I—Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 68]
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026/PHALGUNA 28, 1947
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(Department of Commerce)
(Directorate General of Trade Remedies)
INITIATION NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 19th March, 2026
Case No. AD (OI)-13/2026
SETU case ID-AD/OI/014/2026
Subject: Anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of “1-(3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-6,7-dihydronaphthalen-
2-yl) ethenone” originating in or exported from China PR.
F. No. 6/14/2026-DGTR - Keva Fragrances Private Limited (hereinafter also referred to as the 'applicant')
has filed an application before the Designated Authority (hereinafter referred to as the 'Authority'), in
accordance with the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the
'Act') and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment, and Collection of Anti-Dumping Duty on Dumped
Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as
the 'Rules'), for initiation of an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of “1-(3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-
6,7-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl) ethenone” (hereinafter referred to as "subject goods" or "product under
consideration" or “PUC”), originating in or exported from China PR (hereinafter referred to as "subject
country").
The applicant has alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to the dumped
imports of the product under consideration from the subject country. Accordingly, the applicant has requested
for imposition of anti-dumping duty into imports of the subject goods from the subject country.
A. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION
The product under consideration in the present investigation is “1-(3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-6,7-
dihydronaphthalen-2-yl) ethenone”, having CAS numbers of 21145-77-7 and 1506-02-, and sold under
various brand names including, but not limited to, Tonalide, Tonalid, Muscofix, Ganolid, Fixolide, AHTN,
Musk AHMT, Ultramusk, Lanolid, Musk Tetralin, Dernalide, Methyl Nonyl Acetophenone, Kevolid,
Tentarome, Tetralide. The chemical formula for the product is C18H26O. The molecular weight of the product
is 258.40 g/mol. It is a synthetic polycyclic musk compound, chemically classified as a tetralin ketone.
The product under consideration is primarily used as a base note fixative and volume enhancer. It is used in
masculine fragrances, powdery-musked base blends, layering with other PCM's or nitromusks and functional
perfumery like fabric softeners, deodrants and soaps.
The production under consideration is classified under Chapter 29 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 under
heading 2914 3990. The customs classification is only indicative and is not binding on the scope of the product
under consideration.
The applicant has not proposed any PCN methodology at the present stage. The parties to the present
investigation may provide their comments on the scope of the product under consideration and propose PCNs
(with justification), if any, within thirty (30) days from the date of initiation of this investigation.
B. LIKE ARTICLE
The applicant has claimed that the subject goods exported from the subject country are identical to the goods
produced by the applicant. The subject goods produced by the applicant has comparable characteristics to the
subject goods imported from the subject country in terms of technical specifications, physical and chemical
characteristics, manufacturing process and technology, functions and uses, pricing, distribution & marketing
and tariff classification. The two are technically and commercially substitutable. Therefore, for the purpose of
initiation of the present investigation, the subject goods produced by the applicant are being treated as 'like
article' to the subject goods originating in or exported from the subject country.
C. DOMESTIC INDUSTRY AND STANDING
The application has been filed by Keva Fragrances Private Limited. The applicant has claimed that there is no
other domestic producer of subject goods in India and the applicant accounts for 100% of the production of like
article in India.
The applicant has submitted that it was not related to any exporter of subject goods from the subject country or
importer of subject goods during the period of investigation. While the applicant has a related producer in the
subject country, the producer has ceased manufacturing and sales operations prior to the period of
investigation.
Further, the applicant has submitted that it has not imported the subject goods during the period of
investigation. The applicant has clarified that it imported very small quantities of subject goods prior to the
period of investigation. However, such imports were made from non-subject countries and were either re-
imports of self-produced material due to rejection by customer, or imports from related parties for stock
clearance.
In view of the above, it is noted that the applicant accounts for 100% of the total Indian production in India.
Thus, the Authority notes that the applicant account for a major proportion of the total domestic production and
constitute domestic industry in terms of Rule 2(b) and the application satisfies the criteria of standing in terms
of Rule 5(3) of the Rules.
D. SUBJECT COUNTRY
The subject country in the present investigation is China PR.
E. PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION (POI)
The period of investigation considered for the period of present investigation is 1st October 2024 to 30th
September 2025 (12 months). The injury analysis period shall cover the period of investigation and the three
preceding financial years, that is, 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023, 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024 and 1st
April 2024–31st March 2025 and the period of investigation.
F. BASIS OF ALLEGED DUMPING
Normal Value
The applicant has claimed that China PR should be treated as a non-market economy and the producers from
China PR should be directed to demonstrate that market economy conditions prevail in the industry with regard
to production and sales of the subject goods. Unless the Chinese producers show that market economy
conditions prevail, their normal value should be determined in terms of Paragraph 7 of Annexure-I to the
Rules.
For the purpose of the present initiation, the Authority has considered China PR to be a non-market economy
and determined normal value for China PR based on price payable in India, in absence of information on
record for determining normal value on any other basis. The normal value has been constructed based on cost
of production of the applicant, duly adjusted for selling, general and administrative expenses, with reasonable
profit.
Export Price
The export price of the subject goods has been determined by considering the CIF price of the subject goods, as
reported in the DGCI&S transaction-wise data. Price adjustments have been made on account of ocean freight,
marine insurance, bank charges, port expenses, credit cost, and commission to arrive at ex-factory export price
Dumping Margin
The normal value and the export price of the subject goods have been compared at the ex-factory level, which
prima facie shows that the dumping margin is above the de-minimis level and is significant with respect to the
product under consideration exported from the subject country. Thus, there is prima facie evidence that the
product under consideration from the subject country is being dumped in the Indian market by the exporters
from the subject country.
G. INJURY AND CAUSAL LINK
Information furnished by the applicant has been considered for assessment of injury to the domestic industry.
The applicant has furnished prima facie evidence establishing that the subject imports have caused injury to the
domestic industry. There is significant dumping of the subject goods from the subject country. It has been
claimed that the volume of imports increased over the period, in both absolute and relative terms, despite
significant capacities with the domestic industry. The market share of the domestic industry reduced while that
of the imports increased. The subject imports are significantly undercutting the prices of the domestic industry
and had depressed the domestic prices. As a result, the domestic industry was forced to sell its goods below its
costs, resulting in significant financial losses and cash losses to the domestic industry. The domestic industry
recorded negative returns on its capital employed. Despite increased production and sales, the capacities of the
domestic industry were underutilized, while it has faced accumulation of inventories.
There is sufficient prima facie evidence that injury is being caused to the domestic industry by the dumped
imports from the subject country.
H. INITIATION OF ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION
On the basis of the duly substantiated written application submitted by and on behalf of the domestic industry,
and having satisfied itself, on the basis of the prima facie evidence submitted by the applicant, substantiating
dumping of product under consideration originating in or exported from the subject country, injury to the
domestic industry and a causal link between such dumping and injury, and in accordance with Section 9A of
the Act read with Rule 5 of the Rules, the Authority, hereby, initiates an investigation to determine the
existence, degree, and effect of the dumping with respect to the product under consideration originating in or
exported from the subject country and to recommend the appropriate amount of anti-dumping duty, which if
levied, would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.
I. PROCEDURE
The provisions stipulated in Rule 6 of the Anti-Dumping Rules shall be followed in this investigation.
J. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION
All the interested parties are required to register themselves on SETU Portal (https://setu.dgtr.gov.in). All
communications and submissions from the interested parties shall be uploaded on the SETU portal under their
registered name and corresponding case SETU case ID-AD/OI/014/2026. It should be ensured that the
narrative part of the submission is in searchable PDF/MS-Word format and data files are in MS-Excel format.
The known producers/exporters in the subject country, the government of subject country through its Embassy
in India, and the importers and users in India who are known to be associated with the product under
consideration are being informed separately to enable them to file all the relevant information within the time
limits mentioned in this initiation notification. All such information must be filed in the form and manner as
prescribed by this initiation notification, the Rules, and the applicable trade notices issued by the Authority.
Any other interested party may also make a submission relevant to the present investigation in the form and
manner as prescribed by this initiation notification, the Rules, and the applicable trade notices issued by the
Authority within the time limits mentioned in this initiation notification.
Any party making any confidential submission before the Authority is required to make a non-confidential
version of the same available to the other interested parties.
and a statement of reasons containing a sufficient and adequate explanation as to why such summarization is
not possible, must be provided to the satisfaction of the Authority.
The interested parties can offer their comments on the issues of confidentiality within 7 days from the date of
circulation of the non-confidential version of the documents.
The Authority may accept or reject the request for confidentiality on examination of the nature of the
information submitted. If the Authority is satisfied that the request for confidentiality is not warranted or if the
supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information public or to authorize its disclosure in
generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information.
Any submission made without a meaningful non-confidential version thereof or a sufficient and adequate cause
statement in terms of Rule 7 of the Rules, and appropriate trade notices issued by the Authority, on the
confidentiality claim shall not be taken on record by the Authority.
K. TIME LIMIT
Any information relating to the present investigation should be uploaded on the SETU portal
(https://setu.dgtr.gov.in) under their registered name and SETU case ID-AD/OI/014/2026. Both versions of
each submission, the confidential version (CV) and the non-confidential version (NCV) must be uploaded in
the respective designated columns within 37 days from the date on which the nonconfidential version of the
application filed by the domestic industry would be circulated by the Authority or transmitted to the
appropriate diplomatic representative of the exporting country as per Rule 6(4) of the Rules. If no information
is received within the stipulated time limit or the information received is incomplete, the Authority may record
its findings based on the facts available on record and in accordance with the Rules.
All the interested parties are hereby advised to intimate their interest (including the nature of interest) in the
instant matter and file their questionnaire responses within the above time limit as stipulated in this notification
through SETU portal only.
The 15-day period to file comments on the scope of the PUC/ PCN Methodology shall run concurrently with
the time limit mentioned in this Initiation Notification.
Extension due to Modification of PUC/PCN: An extension of time by 15 days shall be granted if the Authority,
through a subsequent notice, modifies the PUC and PCN that was not previously proposed or is different from
the initiation notification. This extension of 15 days shall be granted from date of such notification of modified
PUC and PCN. Extension of time by 15 days stated in this paragraph is not applicable in instances where there
is no change in the PUC and PCN methodology after initiation of investigation. Requests for a further
extension of time, beyond the 15-day extension (if granted), will ordinarily not be considered except in case of
exceptional circumstances, in line with the Rule 6(4) of the Rules.
Any request for an extension must be submitted by the concerned parties through the SETU portal at least one
day before the original deadline specified above. Requests submitted after this time will not be considered.
L. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION ON CONFIDENTIAL BASIS
Where any party to the present investigation makes confidential submissions or provides information on a
confidential basis before the Authority, such party is required to simultaneously submit a non-confidential
version of such information in terms of Rule 7(2) of the Rules and in accordance with the relevant trade notices
issued by the Authority in this regard. Failure to adhere to the above may lead to rejection of the
response/submissions.
The parties making any submission (including Appendices/ Annexures attached thereto), before the Authority
including questionnaire responses, are required to file confidential and non-confidential versions separately.
Such submissions must be clearly marked as 'confidential' or 'non-confidential' at the top of each page. Any
submission that has been made to the Authority without such markings shall be treated as 'non-confidential'
information by the Authority, and the Authority shall be at liberty to allow other interested parties to inspect
such submissions.
The confidential version shall contain all information which is, by nature, confidential, and/or other
information, which the supplier of such information claims as confidential. For the information which is
claimed to be confidential by nature, or the information on which confidentiality is claimed because of other
reasons, the supplier of the information is required to provide a good cause statement along with the supplied
information as to why such information cannot be disclosed.
The non-confidential version of the information filed by the interested parties is required to be a replica of the
confidential version with the confidential information preferably indexed or blanked out (where indexation is
not possible) and such information must be appropriately and adequately summarized depending upon the
information on which confidentiality is claimed.
The non-confidential summary must be in sufficient detail to permit a reasonable understanding of the
substance of the information furnished on a confidential basis. However, in exceptional circumstances, the
party submitting the confidential information may indicate that such information is not susceptible to summary,
and a statement of reasons containing a sufficient and adequate explanation as to why such summarization is
not possible, must be provided to the satisfaction of the Authority.
The interested parties can offer their comments on the issues of confidentiality within 7 days from the date of
circulation of the non-confidential version of the documents.
The Authority may accept or reject the request for confidentiality on examination of the nature of the
information submitted. If the Authority is satisfied that the request for confidentiality is not warranted or if the
supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information public or to authorize its disclosure in
generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information.
Any submission made without a meaningful non-confidential version thereof or a sufficient and adequate cause
statement in terms of Rule 7 of the Rules, and appropriate trade notices issued by the Authority, on the
confidentiality claim shall not be taken on record by the Authority.
M. INSPECTION OF PUBLIC FILE
All non-confidential versions of submissions made by any interested party will be accessible to other interested
parties through their respective login on the SETU portal.
N. NON-COOPERATION
In case any interested party refuses access to and otherwise does not provide necessary information within a
reasonable period or within the time stipulated by the Authority in this initiation notification, or significantly
impedes the investigation, the Authority may declare such interested party as non-cooperative and record its
findings based on the facts available and make such recommendations to the Central Government as it deems
fit.
AMITABH KUMAR, Designated Authority
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