In any proceeding under the regulations in this part all evidence which is relevant, material, reliable and probative, and not unduly repetitious or cumulative shall be admissible. Irrelevant and immaterial or unduly repetitious or cumulative evidence shall be excluded.

Every party shall have the right to present his case or defense by oral or documentary evidence, to submit rebuttal evidence, and to conduct such cross-examination as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts.

(a) Material that may be deemed evidence. Where a formal hearing is held, a party shall be afforded an opportunity to participate through submission of relevant, material, reliable and probative written evidence including official notice matters covered in § 201.132(g): Provided, That such evidence submitted by persons not present at the hearing will not be made a part of the record if opposed to by any party for good cause shown.

(b) Material that may not be deemed evidence. Letters expressing views or urging action and other unsponsored written material in respect of matters embraced in, or related to, a formal hearing will be placed in the correspondence section of the docket of the proceeding. These data are not to be deemed part of the evidence or part of the record in the material unless sponsored at the public hearing by an authenticating and supporting witness.

Where written matter offered in evidence is embraced in a document containing other matter which is not intended to be offered in evidence, the party offering shall present the original document to all parties at the hearing for their inspection, and shall offer a true copy of the matter which is to be introduced unless the presiding officer determines that the matter is short enough to be read into the record. Opposing parties shall be afforded an opportunity to introduce in evidence, or by stipulations other portions of the original document which are material and relevant.

When any portion of the record before the Administration in any proceeding other than the one being heard is offered in evidence, a true copy of such portion shall be presented for the record in the form of an exhibit unless the parties represented at the hearing stipulate upon the record that such portion may be incorporated by reference.

The parties may, by stipulation in writing filed at the prehearing conference, or by written or oral stipulation presented at the hearing or by written stipulation subsequent to the hearing, agree upon any facts involved in the proceeding and include them in the record with the consent of the presiding officer. Proposed written stipulations shall be subscribed by the sponsors and served upon all parties of record. Only upon acceptance by all parties to the proceeding may a stipulation be noted for the record or received as evidence.

At any time during the hearing the presiding officer may call for the production of further relevant and material evidence, reports, studies, and analyses upon any issue, and require such evidence, where available, to be presented by the party or parties concerned, either at the hearing or adjournment thereof in accordance with § 201.132(b). Such material shall be received subject to appropriate motions, cross-examination and/or rebuttal. If a witness refuses to testify or produce the evidence as requested, the presiding officer shall report such refusal to the Administration forthwith.

Formal exceptions to rulings of the presiding officer are unnecessary. It is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling of the presiding officer is made or sought, makes known the action which he desires the presiding officer to take or his objection to an action taken, and his grounds therefor.

An offer of proof made in connection with an objection taken to any ruling of the presiding officer rejecting or excluding proffered oral testimony shall consist of a statement of the substance of the evidence which counsel contends would be adduced by such testimony; and, if the excluded evidence consists of evidence in documentary or written form or of reference to documents or records, a copy of such evidence shall be marked for identification and shall accompany the record as the offer of proof.