See ISPE Guidelines 9.06. However, under the Agreement between the EPO and WIPO these fall within the EPO's discretion to exclude matter which would be excluded under Art. 53(b) EPC. Generally, no search or preliminary examination is carried out on such matter by the EPO as ISA/IPEA. Section GL/EPO G‑II, 5.2, in the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO applies mutatis mutandis.[OJ EPO 2017, A115; OJ EPO 2018, A24; ]
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelinespct/e/g_ii_5_2.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021