1.1 Contact between the applicant and the search division 

Consultations with the search division can only take place after the application has entered the examination stage, with the exception of cases indicated in B‑VIII, 3.2.2 and 4.2.2, and regarding issues related to the timing of the drawing up of the search report. The search division must not consent to these earlier (see also B‑XI, 8). Applicants must be told that any issues they refer to will be dealt with in examination. For the procedure at the examination stage see C‑VII, 2.5.