2. Responsibility for formalities examination 

The matters covered by this Part A are directed to the formalities staff of the EPO whether they be in The Hague, Munich or Berlin. They are directed primarily to the Receiving Section which is specifically responsible under the EPC for ensuring that the formal requirements for European patent applications are adhered to. Once the application is transferred to the examining division, the latter accepts responsibility for the formalities of the application, although it should be understood that reference to the examining division is intended to cover the formalities officer to whom this work is entrusted (see the decision of the President of the EPO dated 12 December 2013, OJ EPO 2014, A6, the decision of the President of the EPO dated 23 November 2015, OJ EPO 2015, A104, and the decision of the President of the EPO dated 14 June 2020, OJ EPO 2020, A80).