55.7. In any prosecution under this Act, the certificate relating to the analysis of any beverage reputed to be alcoholic signed by the analyst of the Corporation shall be accepted as proof, prima facie, of the facts set out therein and of the authority of the person who signed it, without further evidence of his appointment or of his signature. The cost of the analysis shall also be included in the costs of the proceedings, and the amounts collected as such shall belong to the Corporation and be remitted to the Corporation.
Where beverages that have been seized are in sealed containers identified as containing alcoholic beverages, the beverages shall be presumed to be alcoholic beverages of the type indicated on the container, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary.
However, any defendant who contests that beverages seized are alcoholic beverages or are of a particular type must give prior notice to the prosecuting party of an application for analysis of the contents of a determined number of containers of such beverages not less than 10 days before the date set for the beginning of the trial, unless the prosecuting party waives the notice. Article 172 of the Code of Penal Procedure (chapter C-25.1) applies to the application.
1990, c. 21, s. 13; 1994, c. 26, s. 11; 1996, c. 17, s. 20.