(1) This section has effect for the purposes of any proceeding before a court or tribunal or an authority or person having power to require the production of documents or the answering of questions, other than a proceeding for an offence that is directly punishable by imprisonment.
(2) A certificate that states a matter referred to in subsection (3) is prima facie evidence of that matter if it is signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the APVMA, or by a member of the staff of the APVMA whom the APVMA has authorised to give certificates under this section.
(3) The matters that may be stated in a certificate referred to in subsection (2) are as follows:
(a) that a substance referred to in the certificate was, or was not, at a particular time, or during a particular period, an active constituent, or an approved active constituent, for a proposed or existing chemical product;
(b) that a chemical product referred to in the certificate was, or was not, at a particular time, or during a particular period, a chemical product or a registered chemical product;
(c) that a person named in the certificate was an inspector at a particular time or during a particular period;
(d) that a notice, direction or requirement referred to in the certificate was given at a particular time to a particular person under this Part;
(e) any matter that could be stated in a certificate given under section 149 of any of the Agvet Codes.
(4) Unless the contrary is proved, a document purporting to be a certificate referred to in subsection (2) is taken to be such a certificate and to have been duly given.