Witnesses, experts and hearings
Article 29
1. The Board of Appeal may hear witnesses at the request of one of the parties on decisive facts having an impact on the outcome of the proceedings. A request by a party to hear a witness shall state on which decisive facts the witness shall be heard and the relevant grounds for calling the witness. 2. The Board of Appeal may hear experts to clarify specific aspects of the proceedings, or appoint an expert to deliver a report. 3. When appointing experts to deliver a report the Board of Appeal shall define their tasks and set a time-limit within which the report shall be submitted. 4. Before giving evidence, the expert shall declare any direct or indirect personal interest which they may have in the outcome of the proceedings, in particular if they have previously acted as a representative of one of the parties or have participated in the procedure leading to the decision under appeal or in related arbitration proceedings. 5. If one of the parties objects an expert for reasons of a potential conflict of interest the matter shall be decided upon by the Board of Appeal by applying Article 12 mutatis mutandis . 6. If the Board of Appeal considers that there is a conflict of interest or a risk thereof, it may decide to hear an expert as witness instead. 7. The Board of Appeal may hold an oral hearing if it considers this to be necessary for confirming evidence on decisive facts having an impact on the outcome of the proceedings and subject to efficiency considerations.