(1)  Where the Board proceeds to determine whether it should exercise any of the powers conferred on it by section 49 in respect of a veterinary services company or a veterinary services partnership, the following provisions apply:

(a) the Board must, by notice served on the company or partnership, require the company or partnership to appear before the Board;

(b) that notice shall state that the Board intends so to proceed and specify the matter in relation to which it so intends to proceed;

(c) the company or partnership may appear before the Board by a member or an officer of the company or partnership authorised for that purpose by the company or by a partner in the partnership.

(2)  A notice under subsection (1) (a) requiring a veterinary services company or veterinary services partnership to appear before the Board shall be served at least 14 days before the day on which the company or partnership is required by the notice so to appear.

(3)  If–

(a) when served with a notice under subsection (1) (a) , a veterinary services company or veterinary services partnership fails to appear in accordance with the notice by a person to whom subsection (1) (c) applies; or

(b) having so appeared, the person appearing on behalf of the company or partnership absents himself from the hearing of the matter to which the notice relates–

the Board may proceed as if the person appearing on behalf of the company or partnership were present.

(4)  For the purposes of any proceedings under this section, the Board shall have and may exercise all the powers referred to in section 45 as if the proceedings were an inquiry under section 44 .

(5)  Where the Board makes an order under section 49 (1) , the Board shall cause a copy of that order to be served on the company or partnership.