The department responsible for the taking of evidence in the form of a hearing of witnesses, parties and experts will, in substantive examination and opposition proceedings, be the Division before which the taking of evidence as part of oral proceedings would normally take place. However the Division may commission one of its members to examine the evidence adduced. Generally, he will be the primary examiner under Art. 18(2) or Art. 19(2). A member may, for example, be commissioned pursuant to Art. 117(2), for the purposes of an inspection, such as in the form of a demonstration of a process or the investigation of an object, particularly in undertakings located far away.

A member may also be commissioned to attend a court hearing pursuant to Art. 117(6), and put questions to the witnesses, parties and experts.