The European Union (EU) said on Monday it had launched an anti-dumping probe into imports of ceramic tiles originating in China.

"The investigation will determine whether the product under investigation originating in the country concerned is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury to the (European ) Union industry," the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said in its official journal.

China has been repeatedly opposed to any abuse of anti-dumping measures against its products by the EU.

The commission said the complaint was lodged on May 7, 2010, by the European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Federation, which has reportedly alleged that the Chinese tiles are being dumped at an average margin of 140 percent.

The EU anti-dumping investigation normally takes no more than a year, and in any case must be completed within 15 months, after which the EU governments have the final say on whether to impose definite anti-dumping duties for five years.

However, during the investigation period, the commission may, within 60 days to nine months, impose provisional duties, which may last for six to nine months.

Under EU rules, before taking provisional anti-dumping measures, the commission must consult its member states, which are set to be divided on the issue.