Article 71

1.   If a time limit expires on a day on which the Office is not open for receipt of documents or on which, for reasons other than those referred to in paragraph 2, ordinary mail is not delivered in the locality in which the Office is situated, the time limit shall extend until the first day thereafter on which the Office is open for receipt of documents and on which ordinary mail is delivered. The days referred to in the first sentence shall be as stated by the President of the Office before the commencement of each calendar year and shall be published in the Official Gazette referred to in Article 87.

2.   If a time limit expires on a day on which there is a general interruption or a subsequent dislocation in the delivery of mail in a Member State or between a Member State and the Office, the time limit shall be extended until the first day following the end of the period of dislocation or interruption in the delivery of mail for parties to proceedings having their domicile or seat or establishment in the Member State concerned or having appointed procedural representatives with a seat in that State. Should the Member State concerned be the State in which the Office is located, this provision shall apply to all parties to proceedings. The duration of the period of interruption or dislocation shall be as stated and communicated by the President of the Office.

As regards documents submitted by electronic means, the first subparagraph shall apply mutatis mutandis where there is an interruption of the connection of the Office or of one of the parties to the proceedings to the electronic means of communication. Parties to the proceedings shall demonstrate the interruption of the connection with the electronic provider.

3.   Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the national agencies, or the sub-offices designated, pursuant to Article 30(4) of the basic Regulation as well as to the Examination Offices.