If under any law a document is admissible in evidence in civil or criminal proceedings if it has been prepared, attested, certified, compiled or executed by a particular institution or by a person holding a particular office, possessing a particular qualification, performing a particular function or engaged in a particular activity, a similar document emanating from a designated country shall, for the purposes of such law and subject to the provisions of section 4, be admissible only if it appears on the face thereof to have been prepared, attested, certified, compiled or executed by an institution in the designated country in question or by a person in such country holding an office, possessing a qualification, performing a function or engaged in an activity equivalent to the corresponding institution in the Republic or to the office, qualification, function or activity of the corresponding person in the Republic, contemplated in such law.