The time limit for paying the designation fee which, as already indicated, forms part of the "national fee" is 31 months from the date of filing or, if priority has been claimed, from the earliest priority date, if the time limit specified in Art. 79(2) has expired earlier (Rule 107(1)(d)) (see III, 12.10 for further details). If, subsequent to the receipt of the international application by the EPO and prior to the date on which processing or examination may start, the regional designation of all Contracting States of the EPC is withdrawn, the Euro-PCT application, insofar as it is deemed to be a European application pursuant to Art. 150(3), is deemed to be withdrawn.

For information on the requirements for extension of a Euro-PCT application to States for which an Extension Agreement with the EPO has become effective, see III, 13.