Statute Details
- Title: Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2022
- Act Code: EA1968-S556-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Extradition Act 1968
- Legal Basis: Made under section 4(1)(b) of the Extradition Act 1968
- Citation: Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2022
- Commencement: 1 July 2022
- Key Provisions: Sections 1–4; Schedule (Convention countries)
- Cancellation: Cancels the Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2017 (G.N. No. S 487/2017)
- Schedule: Lists “Convention countries” to which the Extradition Act 1968 applies for “relevant offences”
- Most Relevant Cross-References: Extradition Act 1968 (section 40(1)); Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Act 2017 (sections 13(5), 13(8))
What Is This Legislation About?
The Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2022 is a Singapore legal instrument that enables extradition arrangements to operate for certain nuclear terrorism-related offences under an international framework. In practical terms, it identifies which foreign states (“Convention countries”) are treated as relevant partners for extradition purposes, and it specifies how Singapore’s Extradition Act 1968 is to be applied when a person is accused of or convicted of a “relevant offence” connected to the international Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
Although the Notification is short, it plays an important administrative and legal function. Extradition in Singapore is governed primarily by the Extradition Act 1968. However, the Act’s operation depends on whether the requesting state is designated for the relevant category of offences. This Notification therefore “turns on” the extradition machinery for the specified Convention countries, but only for the offences that fall within the relevant statutory definition in Singapore’s terrorism legislation.
In addition, the Notification updates Singapore’s designation from an earlier 2017 version. It expressly cancels the Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2017, reflecting changes in the list of Convention countries and/or the legal basis for applying the Extradition Act to them.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) provides the legal identity and timing of the instrument. The Notification is cited as the “Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2022” and comes into operation on 1 July 2022. For practitioners, the commencement date matters because it determines whether the updated designation applies to extradition requests made before or after that date.
Section 2 (Definitions) is crucial because it links the Notification to Singapore’s domestic terrorism legislation. It defines two key terms by reference to the Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Act 2017:
- “Convention country” is defined by section 2 of the 2017 Act.
- “relevant offence” is defined by section 13(8) of the 2017 Act.
This drafting technique means the Notification does not itself describe the offences in detail. Instead, it relies on the terrorism statute’s definitions, ensuring consistency across the legal framework. For counsel, this is a reminder to read the Notification together with the 2017 Act to determine the exact scope of “relevant offences” and the treaty-based category they represent.
Section 3 (Application of Extradition Act 1968 to Convention countries) is the operative provision. It states that, for the purposes of section 40(1) of the Extradition Act 1968 and section 13(5) of the Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Act 2017, the Extradition Act 1968 (with an important carve-out) applies in relation to any Convention country specified in the Schedule.
The section also specifies the persons and the offences covered: it applies in respect of any person accused of or convicted of a relevant offence of the Convention country. This language is significant because it covers both pre-trial allegations (“accused”) and post-conviction situations (“convicted”). In extradition practice, this affects the evidential posture and the type of documentation typically required by the requesting state.
Most importantly, Section 3 provides that the Extradition Act 1968 applies except for Parts 5 and 6. While the extract does not reproduce those Parts, the legal effect is that certain procedural or substantive components of the Extradition Act are excluded for this treaty category. Practitioners should therefore not assume that the entire Extradition Act applies uniformly; instead, they must identify what Parts 5 and 6 regulate and how their exclusion changes the extradition process for nuclear terrorism-related offences.
Section 4 (Cancellation) provides continuity and legal clarity. It cancels the earlier Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2017 (G.N. No. S 487/2017). This ensures there is no overlap or confusion between the 2017 and 2022 designations. In practice, counsel should verify which Notification is in force at the time of the request and ensure that the requesting state appears in the current Schedule.
The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract) is the practical “list” component. It specifies the Convention countries to which the Extradition Act 1968 applies under this Notification. For extradition work, the Schedule is often the first place to check: if the requesting state is not listed, the statutory basis for applying the Extradition Act in this treaty category may be absent or may require a different legal route.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a straightforward, four-part format:
- Section 1 sets out the citation and commencement.
- Section 2 provides definitions, importing key terms from the Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Act 2017.
- Section 3 contains the operative designation—it applies the Extradition Act 1968 (excluding Parts 5 and 6) to specified Convention countries for persons accused of or convicted of relevant offences.
- Section 4 provides cancellation of the earlier 2017 Notification.
In addition, the Schedule lists the Convention countries. The Schedule is therefore the “data” component that determines which foreign states are covered.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Notification applies to extradition proceedings in Singapore involving persons who are accused of or convicted of a “relevant offence” committed against or connected to a Convention country listed in the Schedule. The scope is not limited by nationality of the person; rather, it is structured around the requesting state and the offence category.
Accordingly, the Notification is relevant to:
- Individuals sought by foreign states for extradition for relevant nuclear terrorism-related offences; and
- Authorities and counsel involved in determining whether the Extradition Act 1968 applies for this treaty category and which procedural rules are excluded by the reference to “except for Parts 5 and 6”.
Because the definitions of “Convention country” and “relevant offence” are imported from the 2017 terrorism statute, the practical applicability depends on how those definitions operate in the domestic law context. Practitioners should therefore treat the Notification as part of a combined statutory scheme rather than a standalone instrument.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Notification is brief, it is legally significant because extradition is highly dependent on statutory preconditions. By designating Convention countries and specifying the relevant offence category, the Notification provides the legal bridge between Singapore’s treaty obligations and its domestic extradition framework.
From an enforcement perspective, the Notification supports international cooperation against nuclear terrorism by ensuring that Singapore can process extradition requests for offences within the treaty-defined scope. From a defence perspective, it clarifies the legal basis for the request and the applicable procedural regime—particularly because Section 3 excludes Parts 5 and 6 of the Extradition Act 1968. Exclusion of parts can materially affect timelines, evidential requirements, or the availability of certain procedural mechanisms. Counsel should therefore review the Extradition Act in full and identify what is excluded to assess procedural rights and strategy.
Finally, the cancellation of the 2017 Notification means practitioners must be careful about version control. The instrument in force is the 2022 Notification (current as at 27 March 2026), and it commenced on 1 July 2022. For cases involving requests made around that date, counsel should consider whether the designation applicable at the time of the request differs from the current designation, and whether any transitional issues arise.
Related Legislation
- Extradition Act 1968 (including section 40(1) and the provisions in Parts 5 and 6)
- Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Act 2017 (including section 2, section 13(5), and section 13(8))
- Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2017 (G.N. No. S 487/2017) — cancelled
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Extradition (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) Notification 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.