(1) The designated authority shall, after it has decided to initiate investigation to determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged subsidization of any article, issue a public notice notifying its decision. Public notice regarding initiation of investigation shall, inter alia, contain adequate information on the following:-

(i) the name of the exporting countries and the article involved;

(ii) the date of initiation of the investigation;

(iii) a description of the subsidy practice or practices to be investigated;

(iv) a summary of the factors on which the allegation of injury is based;

(v) the address to which representations by interested countries and interested parties should be directed; and

(vi) the time-limits allowed to interested countries and interested parties for making their views known.

(2) A copy of the public notice shall be forwarded by the designated authority to the known exporters of the article alleged to have been subsidized, the government of the exporting country concerned and other interested parties.

(3) The designated authority shall also provide a copy of the application referred to in sub-rule (1) of rule 6 to -

(i) the known exporters or the concerned trade association where the number of exporters is large, and

(ii) the government of the exporting country :

Provided that the designated authority shall also make available a copy of the application, upon request in writing, to any other interested party.

(4) The designated authority may issue a notice calling for any information in such form as may be specified by it from the exporters, foreign producers and governments of interested countries and such information shall be furnished by such persons in writing within thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice or within such extended period as the designated authority may allow on sufficient cause being shown.

Explanation.- For the purpose of this sub-rule the public notice and other documents shall be deemed to have been received one week from the date on which these documents were sent by the designated authority or transmitted to the appropriate diplomatic representative of the exporting country.

(5) The designated authority shall also provide opportunity to the industrial users of the article under investigation, and to representative consumer organisations in cases where the article is commonly sold at retail level, to furnish information which is relevant to the investigation regarding subsidization and where applicable injury and casuality.

(6) The designated authority may allow an interested country or an interested party or its representative to present information relevant to the investigation orally also, but such oral information shall be taken into consideration only when it is subsequently reproduced in writing.

(7) The designated authority shall make available the evidence presented by one party to other interested parties participating in the investigation.

(8) In a case where an interested party refuses access to, or otherwise does not provide necessary information within a reasonable period, or significantly impedes the investigation, the designated authority may record its findings on the basis of facts available to it and make such recommendations to the Central Government as it deems fit under such circumstances.