Article 9 - Costs - Seychelles

ARTICLE 9 COSTS 1. Unless the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties otherwise agree, ordinary costs incurred in providing assistance shall be borne by the requested Party, and subject to the provisions of this Article, extraordinary costs incurred in providing assistance shall, if they exceed 500 US dollars, be borne by the requesting Party. 2. The competent authorities will consult each other, in advance, in any particular case where extraordinary costs are likely to exceed 500 US dollars to determine whether the requesting Party will continue to pursue the request and bear the cost. 3. The competent authorities shall consult from time to time with regard to this Article. 4. Ordinary costs include internal administration costs, any minor external costs and overhead expenses incurred by the requested Party in reviewing and responding to information requests submitted by the requested Party. Examples of extraordinary costs incurred in providing assistance include, but are not limited to the following: (a) reasonable fees charged by third parties for copying documents on behalf of the requested Party; (b) reasonable costs of engaging interpreters, translators or other agreed experts; (c) reasonable costs of conveying documents to the requesting Party; (d) reasonable litigation costs of the requested Party in relation to a specific request for information; and (e) reasonable costs for obtaining depositions or testimony.