Excuse of any delay in meeting certain time limits

Where any time limit fixed in the Treaty or Regulations is not met because of an interruption in the mail service or unavoidable loss or delay in the mail, the time limit can be deemed to be met in the cases and subject to the proof and other conditions prescribed in the Regulations. Furthermore, a Contracting State must excuse any delay in meeting any time limit for reasons allowed for in its national law and may excuse delays for other reasons. In addition, a designated Office can, upon request by the applicant, reinstate the rights of the applicant with respect to the international application where the effect of such international application has ceased because the applicant failed to perform the acts to enter the national phase within the applicable time limit.