ICC arbitration · Governing Rules and actual communication country
When must the HEAP tribunal hold its initial CMC?
The HEAP tribunal must hold an initial CMC within 7 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend that period. The conference consults the parties on procedural measures and establishes the timetable; appointment alone does not prove file receipt.
- Period
- 7 calendar days under the established ordinary branch.
- Trigger
- Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat
- Rule
- ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)
The 2026 Rules apply from commencement on or after June 1, 2026 unless an earlier edition was agreed. The actual HEAP initial CMC supplies the separate three-month final-award event, not the deadline for holding the conference.
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When must the HEAP tribunal hold its initial CMC?
The HEAP tribunal must hold an initial CMC within 7 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend that period. The conference consults the parties on procedural measures and establishes the timetable; appointment alone does not prove file receipt.
Responsible actor. The HEAP sole arbitrator constituting the tribunal.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat
Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different.
The actual HEAP initial CMC supplies the separate three-month final-award event, not the deadline for holding the conference.
Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)How does this provision count time?
- Identify actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat.
- Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different.
- Hold the conference, consult the parties and establish the procedural timetable. Retain the actual conference record and any extension.
- Retain the actual communication and the established relevant country calendar before recording the expiry.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat. For this 7-day period, establish the legally effective event before applying the time-limit rules. Article 4(1) excludes the event day, starts on the next business day if necessary, includes intermediate nonbusiness days and carries a closed final day to the next business day.
Hold the conference, consult the parties and establish the procedural timetable. Retain the actual conference record and any extension. The calculation calendar is metropolitan France excluding Alsace-Moselle, with retained official 2026 holidays and Saturday/Sunday closures. Establish the country where the relevant communication is deemed made. The arbitral seat is insufficient; a different country, local calendar, disputed event or out-of-coverage result is outside this calculation.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The HEAP sole arbitrator constituting the tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 06, 2026. Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | The HEAP sole arbitrator constituting the tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 06, 2026. Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Count 7 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. That final day is open under the retained applicable calendar. | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | The HEAP sole arbitrator constituting the tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 09, 2026. Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Monday, October 12, 2026. Count 7 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Sunday, October 18, 2026. Article 4(1) carries that closed final day to Monday, October 19, 2026. | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The HEAP sole arbitrator constituting the tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on November 04, 2026. Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Count 7 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Article 4(1) carries that closed final day to Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Thursday, November 12, 2026 |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Established ordinary branch
- Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different.
- Completion requirement
- Hold the conference, consult the parties and establish the procedural timetable. Retain the actual conference record and any extension.
- Establish the actual HEAP track, file receipt and absence of an effective Secretary General extension. A standard or ordinary expedited CMC period is different.
- The actual HEAP initial CMC supplies the separate three-month final-award event, not the deadline for holding the conference.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must the HEAP tribunal hold its initial CMC?
Who fixes an extension of the seven-day CMC period?
The Secretary General may extend on a reasoned request or on the Secretary General’s own initiative.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)Does the sole arbitrator’s appointment start the period?
No. Appendix VI Article 6(1) uses receiving the file from the Secretariat.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)What must the initial CMC accomplish?
It consults the parties on procedural measures and establishes the timetable.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)Does setting a conference date satisfy the rule?
The tribunal must hold the initial CMC within the applicable period.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)Is the three-month final-award period measured from file receipt?
No. Appendix VI Article 7(1) measures it from the actual initial CMC.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)Can later procedural measures change?
Article 6 preserves tribunal discretion after consultation. Read the actual operative measures and directions.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (2)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix VI Article 6(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Articles 1(2), 3(5) and 4 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |