Animal Health Act, 2002 (Act No. 7 of 2002)

30. Presumptions and evidence

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In any prosecution for any offence under this Act

(a)it is presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that any sample taken from an animal or thing in terms of this Act is representative of that animal or thing from which it was taken and that such animal or thing possesses the same properties as that sample;
(b)any document purporting to be certified by the national executive officer, assignee, provincial executive officer or authorised person to the effect that it is a true copy of the document to which the proceedings relate, is admissible as evidence in any court without any further proof or the production of the original document;
(c)particulars of any event, action or facts that have been recorded in terms of a prescribed measure by the national executive officer, assignee, provincial executive officer or authorised person may be accepted as prima facie evidence of the event, action or facts in question, and are, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, admissible as evidence in any court;
(d)any declaration or other document that purports to have been issued by the government of, or any competent authority in, any foreign State is prima facie evidence of such declaration or of the event, action or facts stated therein and is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, admissible as evidence in any court.