Poisons Act 1971

In proceedings in respect of an offence against this Act – the production of a document purporting to be an analyst's or inspector's certificate prepared pursuant to section 25 is evidence of the facts therein stated if tendered by – the prosecutor; or the defendant if he has, not less than 7 days before the hearing, delivered a copy thereof to the prosecutor – unless the party against whom the document is tendered has given notice in writing to the other party, at least 4 days before the hearing, that he requires the analyst, a person who, under the supervision of the analyst, was involved with the analysis or the inspector to be called as a witness; and if the defendant requires the portion of a substance retained as provided by section 61(1)(e) to be produced at the hearing, he shall give the prosecutor not less than 3 days' notice in writing of his requirement; and section 177A of the Evidence Act 2001 does not apply.

In proceedings in respect of an offence against this Act, when it is necessary or proper to prove in respect of a particular substance that it conforms to any of the following descriptions, namely:that it is a poison or poisonous; that it consists of or contains poison; that it is a restricted substance; that it is a narcotic substance – then in every such case – evidence that a substance commonly sold under the same name or description as that particular substance conforms to any of the descriptions contained in paragraph (a), paragraph (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (d) is evidence that that particular substance also conforms to the same description accordingly; evidence that a particular substance bears an inscription required by the regulations in respect of any substance or kind of substances is evidence that that particular substance is a substance, or belongs to the kind of substances, in respect of which that inscription is so required; and evidence that the container or package in which a particular substance is contained is labelled as required, or bears an inscription required, by the regulations in respect of containers or packages containing any substance or kind of substances is evidence that that particular substance is a substance, or belongs to a kind of substances, the containers or packages containing which are so required to be labelled or to bear that inscription.

In proceedings against a person in respect of an offence against Part V it is not necessary to negative by evidence any licence, authority, or other matter of exception or defence, and the burden of proving any such matters lies on the person seeking to avail himself of it.

In any proceedings for an offence under this Act, a printed document which purports to set out a standard or specification of a prescribed authority as defined in section 92A and which purports to have been published or issued by or on behalf of the authority is admissible in evidence and is evidence of the standard or specification.