# Animal Health Act 1981, Section 71A: Prosecutions: time limit

Extent: E+W

(1) Despite anything in section 127(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 an information relating to an offence under this Act which is triable by a magistrates’ court in England and Wales may be so tried if it is laid at any time—
(a) within the period of three years starting with the date of the commission of the offence, and
(b) within the period of six months starting with the day on which evidence which the prosecutor thinks is sufficient to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge.
(2) A certificate by the prosecutor as to the date on which such evidence came to his knowledge is conclusive evidence of that fact.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/22/section/71A (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/animal-health-act-1981/section-71A
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.