The hearing officer may upon request or in the cases and under the conditions set out in the basic Regulations, organise and conduct two types of hearings: hearings between an individual interested party or a group of interested parties with similar interests and the Commission services responsible for the investigation, and hearings among interested parties with different interests.

A hearing can cover any issue which arises at any moment of a trade proceeding and could affect the rights of the interested parties.

Natural persons invited to attend a hearing shall either appear in person or be represented by a legal representative. Legal persons invited to attend a hearing shall be represented by a duly authorised agent appointed from among their permanent staff.

Natural or legal persons invited to attend a hearing organised by the hearing officer may be assisted by a legal adviser or another qualified person outside their permanent staff admitted by the hearing officer.

This Article is without prejudice to the right to a hearing under the basic Regulations.