Artikel 48

Should the presentment of the cheque or the drawing up of the protest or the making of the equivalent declaration within the prescribed limits of time be prevented by an insurmountable obstacle (legal prohibition (prescription légale) by any State or other case of vis major), these limits of time shall be extended.
The holder is bound to give notice without delay of the case of vis major to his endorser and to make a dated and signed declaration of this notice, on the cheque or on an allonge; in other respects, the provisions of Article 42 shall apply.
When vis major has terminated, the holder must without delay present the cheque for payment and, if need be, procure a protest to be drawn up or an equivalent declaration made.
If vis major continues to operate beyond 15 days after the date on which the holder, even before the expiration of the time limit for presentment, has given notice of vis major to his endorser, recourse may be exercised and neither presentment nor a protest nor an equivalent declaration shall be necessary.
Facts which are purely personal to the holder or to the person whom he has entrusted with the presentment of the cheque or the drawing up of the protest or the making of the equivalent declaration are not deemed to constitute cases of vis major.