BEIJING -- China has started reviewing the anti-dumping measures it imposed in 2006 on catechol imported from Japan and the United States, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Wednesday.

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The MOC will examine the possibility of continuing the anti-dumping measures and evaluate any possible damage that might result if the measures are discontinued, according to a statement on the MOC's website.

The Lianyungang Sanjili Chemical Industry Co, Ltd filed an application for the re-examination of the measures on March 21 on behalf of China's catechol producers, the statement said, adding that the review should be completed before May 22, 2012.

China slapped a five-year anti-dumping duty of 4 percent to 46.81 percent on catechol imports from the United States and Japan on May 22, 2006.

Catechol is a chemical material that can be used as an antiseptic or photographic developer.