What is the meaning of first action in patent examination?

The first action in patent examination refers to the first substantive examination. Procedures for Examination of Invention Patents Article 34 After receiving an application for a patent for invention, the administrative department for patent in the State Council, after preliminary examination, finds that it conforms to the provisions of this Law, and shall publish it after 18 months from the date of application. The patent administration department of the State Council may publish its application at an early date upon the request of the applicant. Article 35 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) * * * Within three years from the date of filing, the patent administration department of the State Council may, at the request of the applicant, conduct substantive examination of the application at any time; If the applicant fails to request substantive examination within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. The patent administrative department of the State Council may, when it deems it necessary, examine the application for a patent for invention on its own. Article 36 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) When requesting substantive examination, the applicant for a patent for invention shall submit reference materials related to his invention before the filing date. Where an application for a patent for invention is filed in a foreign country, the patent administration department of the State Council may require the applicant to submit the information retrieved during the examination of his application in that country or the information on the examination results within a specified time limit; If the application is not submitted within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. Article 37 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) * * * If the administrative department for patent in the State Council considers that the application for a patent for invention is not in conformity with the provisions of this Law after substantive examination, it shall notify the applicant and ask him to state his opinions or amend his application within a specified time limit; If no reply is made within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.