9.1.4 Supplementary European search report 

In certain circumstances, it is permissible not to cite any documents at all in a supplementary European search report under Art. 153(7) (see B‑IV, 2.5). The search report will then include the phrase "No further relevant documents disclosed", but the search opinion (if applicable ‒ see B‑XI, 7) will give an opinion on whether the claimed invention seems to be patentable over the state of the art cited in the international search report (B‑XI, 1.1).

Even if the search division disagrees with the ISA's opinion on the relevance of a document cited in the international search report for assessing the novelty and/or inventive step of the claimed invention, it normally does not cite the document again in the supplementary European search report with a new, corrected document category. The exception to this is where it wants to combine a first document falling under category Y (see B‑X, 9.2.1) and not found until its supplementary European search with another document already cited in the international search report: it may then choose to cite the other document from the international search report again in its supplementary European search report as a "Y" document in combination with the first document. Where this recategorising of the document does not affect all the claims, this is clarified in the supplementary European search report in order to ensure consistency with the European search opinion.