Artikel 17

1. The Requested Party shall serve any document relating to a criminal matter transmitted to it for the purpose of service, provided that the document is accompanied by a translation into an official language of the Requested Party or at the minimum, a translation of the essential passages thereof.
2. The Requesting Party shall transmit a request for the service of a document pertaining to a response within a reasonable time before the scheduled response.
3. The Requesting Party shall transmit a request for the service of a document pertaining to an appearance in the Requesting Party at least thirty days before the scheduled appearance.
4. The Requested Party shall give proof of service:
a) by means of a receipt dated and signed by the person served; or
b) by means of a declaration made by the Requested Party consistent with its domestic law that service has been effected and stating the form and date of such service.
5. A person who fails to comply with a document served on him or her pursuant to this Article shall not by reason thereof be liable to any penalty or coercive measure pursuant to the law of either Party.