Article 30

1. Where, in ex parte proceedings, the Board of Appeal considers that an absolute ground for refusal may be applicable to goods or services listed in the trade mark application which do not form part of the subject matter of the appeal, it shall inform the examiner competent for examining that application who may decide to reopen the examination pursuant to Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 with respect to those goods or services.

2. Where a decision of the Opposition Division is subject to an appeal, the Board of Appeal may, by means of a reasoned interim decision and without prejudice to Article 66(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, suspend the appeal proceedings and remit the contested application to the examiner competent for examining that application with a recommendation to reopen the examination pursuant to Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, where it considers that an absolute ground for refusal shall apply to some or all of the goods or services listed in the trade mark application.

3. Where the contested application has been remitted in application of paragraph 2, the examiner shall inform the Board of Appeal without delay whether or not the examination of the contested application has been reopened. Where the examination has been reopened, the appeal proceedings shall remain suspended until the examiner's decision has been taken and, where the contested application is rejected in whole or in part, until the examiner's decision to this effect has become final.