6.1 Application of Rules 56 and 56a by the EPO as designated/elected Office in order to maintain the original filing date

For a request under Rule 56(3) or Rule 56a(4) to be allowed by the EPO as designated/elected Office, it must be filed, together with the documents and the declaration that the missing or correct parts are completely contained in the priority document, as required under Rule 56(3) or Rule 56a(4), within two months of either the date of filing or a communication from the receiving Office under Rule 20.5(a) PCT or Rule 20.5bis(a) PCT (Rule 56(2) and Rule 56a(3)). This means that the applicant must have effectively requested early processing before expiry of the two-month period under Rule 56(2) or Rule 56a(3) (A‑XII, 7.1) because, as a rule, the remedies under the EPC can be applied only once processing in the European phase has started.