Article 38 of the Criminal Procedure Law: From the date when the people's procuratorate examines and prosecutes the case, the defense lawyer may consult, extract and copy the case file. Other defenders may also consult, extract and copy the above materials with the permission of the people's court or the people's procuratorate.
The appeal stage still belongs to the period from the date when the procuratorate examines and prosecutes the case.