TITLE IV GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER VI Apportionment and determination of costs

Article 75Awards of costs

1.A decision as to costs shall be dealt with in the decision on the revocation or cancellation of a Community plant variety right, or the decision on the appeal.

2.In the case of an award of costs pursuant to Article 85(1) of the basic Regulation, the Office shall set out that award in the statement of the grounds of the decision on the revocation or cancellation of a Community plant variety right, or the decision on the appeal. The parties to proceedings may not plead the omission of that indication.

Article 76Determination of costs

1.A request for the determination of costs shall be admissible only if the decision has been taken in respect of which the determination of costs is required and if, in the event of an appeal against such decision, the Board of Appeal has decided upon that appeal. A bill of costs, with supporting documents, shall be attached to the request.

2.Costs may be determined once their credibility is established.

3.Where one party to proceedings incurs the costs of another party to the proceedings, it shall not be required to reimburse any costs other than those referred to in paragraph 4. Where the successful party to proceedings is represented by more than one agent, adviser or advocate, the losing party shall bear the costs referred to in paragraph 4 for one such person only.

4.The costs essential to proceedings shall cover:

(a)costs of witnesses and experts paid by the Office to the witness or expert concerned;

(b)expenses for travel and subsistence of a party to proceedings and an agent, adviser or advocate duly designated as a procedural representative before the Office, within the relevant scales applicable to witnesses and experts laid down in Annex I;

(c)remuneration of an agent, adviser or advocate duly designated as the procedural representative of a party to proceedings before the Office, within the scales laid down in Annex I.

Article 77Settlement of costs

In the event of a settlement of costs referred to in Article 85(4) of the basic Regulation, the Office shall confirm such settlement in a communication to the parties to the proceedings. Where such communication confirms also a settlement as to the amount of costs to be paid, a request for the determination of costs shall be inadmissible.