In view of the postponement of meetings at WIPO headquarters in May 2020, including the thirteenth session of the PCT Working Group, the International Bureau issued Circular
C. PCT 1598, dated April 29, 2020, to propose arrangements for the conduct of the business of the thirty-first session of the PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation (“the Committee”), scheduled to take place from May 26 to 29, 2020. 

Circular C. PCT 1598 proposed that members of the Committee review document PCT/CTC/31/2 containing the application for Appointment of the EAPO as an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) under the PCT, raise any questions on the application with the representative of EAPO indicated in the Circular by May 26, 2020, and send any statements concerning the application to the International Bureau by May 29, 2020.  The International Bureau would make any statements received available and prepare a draft summary for approval by correspondence.  The approved summary would constitute the advice of the Committee to the PCT Assembly on the appointment of EAPO as an ISA/IPEA, as required under PCT Articles 16(3)(e) and 32(3).

In response to C. PCT 1598, some delegations and regional groups have raised questions regarding the legal basis and the process of obtaining the advice of the Committee through a written procedure.  Pending resolution of these procedural matters, the International Bureau invites members of Committee to provide any statements concerning the application by sending them by email to the Secretariat at pct.wg@wipo.int.  For other members of the Committee to view these statements, the International Bureau will post them on this page as they are received. 

The International Bureau has discussed the procedural issues raised in response to C. PCT 1598 with coordinators of the regional groups represented at WIPO meetings.  While the procedural matters have not yet been resolved, it has been agreed in these discussions that the deadline for sending statements on the application of EAPO should be further extended to July 10, 2020.