Evidence and presumptions

(1) Where the owner or person in charge or possession of any animal, animal product, feed, litter, carcass, plant material, plant product, fertiliser, feeding stuff or other similar thing is charged with an offence against this Act, or against any Regulations made thereunder, relative to disease, pest or to any illness, he shall be presumed to have known of the existence of 54 the disease, pest or illness unless and until he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he had no knowledge thereof and could not with reasonable diligence have obtained that knowledge. (2) Where a person is charged with an offence against this Act, or against any Regulations made thereunder, in not having duly cleansed or disinfected any land, place, carrier, or thing, belonging to him or in his charge and a presumption against him on the part of the prosecution is raised, it shall lie on him to prove the due cleaning and disinfection thereof. (3) The certificate of an Officer to the effect that any animal, animal product, carcass, biological, feed, plant product, or plant material, is or was affected with a disease or pest specified in the certificate shall for the purposes of this Act or of any Regulations made thereunder be prima facie evidence in all courts of law of the matter certified therein.