18. Withdrawal or lapse of application

Any application may be withdrawn by the applicant at any time before a grant of protection is made in respect of it.

The withdrawal of an application shall not affect the liability of the applicant for any fees that may have become payable up to the date of that withdrawal.

Subject to section 17(2)(b), where any information, document or material required to be given to the Registrar or a prescribed examination authority under the provisions of this Act is not supplied within the period stated in the written notice issued by the Registrar or the local prescribed examination authority, as the case may be, requiring such information, document or material, the application concerned shall lapse upon the expiration of that period.