5. Classification of the European patent application 

The main page of the search report shows the IPC classification symbol or symbols assigned to the European patent application (see B‑V, 3).

If the application is published before the search report has been drawn up (A2 publication, see B‑X, 4), the search division will fill in supplemental sheet A in time for its publication, entering all the necessary information mentioned in B‑X, 7 and the application's IPC classification (see B‑V, 3.3 on cases where the application lacks unity).

The IPC classification is shown again on the separately published search report (A3 publication, see B‑X, 4). If, in the meantime, the search division has changed the IPC classification initially assigned and shown on the A2 publication, it is the new classification that will appear on the later published search report (see B‑V, 3.1).