China will continue to levy anti-dumping duties over the next five years on catechol, a chemical used for medicines and paints, from the European Union, said the Ministry of Commerce Tuesday.

The levy was first imposed for a five-year term at rates ranging from 20 percent to 79 percent on August 27, 2003.

The ministry recommenced anti-dumping investigations against the product at the request of domestic catechol manufacturers, when the earlier decree expired on August 26, 2008.

Catechol dumping from the EU would damage China's catechol industry once the anti-dumping duties were canceled, the ministry said in a decision issued on Tuesday after the investigation. The rate of duties were not mentioned.