Statute Details
- Title: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Arms Exhibitions — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Act Authorising Provision: Made under section 56 of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Act Code: GEWCA2021-S362-2025
- Commencement: Comes into operation on 1 July 2025
- Status / Version: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 362/2025
- Key Parts: Part 1 (Preliminary); Part 2 (Arms Trade Fair Customers); Part 3 (Arms Demonstration Exhibitions)
- Key Sections (from extract): Section 2 (Definitions); Sections 4–5 (Arms trade fair customers); Sections 6–7 (Organiser of arms demonstration exhibitions); Sections 8–9 (Visitor)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Arms Exhibitions — Class Licence) Order 2025 is a regulatory instrument under Singapore’s Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (“GEWCA”). In plain terms, it creates a “class licence” framework for certain people involved in two specific kinds of events: arms trade fairs and arms demonstration exhibitions.
The Order is designed to manage the risks inherent in events where firearms, firearm components (“major parts of a gun”), accessories, and explosives (including inert or simulated items for demonstrations) may be displayed or used. It does so by defining who qualifies as a “class licensee” and by imposing conditions that must be met for those individuals to lawfully participate.
Importantly, the Order distinguishes between (i) events that are commercial in nature—arms trade fairs where guns and related items are displayed for purposes of sale, supply by loan or hire, or trading—and (ii) events that are demonstrative and, in the definition, arranged exclusively by or on behalf of the Government—arms demonstration exhibitions. This distinction drives who is licensed, what activities are permitted, and what safety and control expectations apply.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1) Citation, commencement, and scope (Part 1)
Section 1 provides the citation and commencement: the Order is effective from 1 July 2025. Section 2 is a detailed definitions section. For practitioners, the definitions are not mere background—they determine the boundaries of the licensing regime and therefore the legality of participation.
2) Core definitions that control eligibility and permitted conduct
The extract shows several definitions that are central to how the class licence operates:
- “Arms demonstration exhibition”: an exhibition arranged or held exclusively by or on behalf of the Government at premises in Singapore, where guns, major parts, gun accessories, or explosives may be temporarily exhibited and/or demonstrated, but not for sale, supply by loan or hire, or trading. It may include target shooting activity, and individuals may attend for a fee, contribution, or free of charge.
- “Arms trade fair”: an exhibition arranged or held in the course of business where guns/major parts/accessories are exhibited for purposes of sale or supply by loan or hire or trading, and where the event also promotes sales and related services. Attendance is similarly structured through fees, contributions, or free admission.
- “Arms trade fair customer” (not fully shown in the extract, but addressed in Part 2): the Order treats certain attendees/customers as class licensees.
- “Deactivated gun”: a gun rendered permanently inoperable, or with the breech, chamber, and barrel permanently sealed.
- “Simulated ammunition or inert projectile”: items approved by a person mentioned in section 88(2) of the Act for arms demonstration exhibitions.
- “Security and safety measures, procedures and controls”: a non-exhaustive concept covering securing guns and explosives against loss/theft/unauthorised access, reinforcing barriers at shooting ranges, cordoning or adjusting boundaries, and deploying personnel to supervise safety and security.
- “Use” (for guns and explosives): includes firing, and also holding a gun so as to cause a reasonable belief it will be fired; for simulated ammunition/inert projectiles, it includes discharging or firing the explosive.
- “Exhibition period” and “trade fair period”: time windows anchored to publicity materials, including lead-in/lead-out and social events connected with the event.
3) Part 2: Arms trade fair customers as class licensees (Sections 4–5)
Part 2 addresses customers at arms trade fairs. Section 4 states that an arms trade fair customer is a class licensee. The practical effect is that certain customers—such as prospective customers and guests of honour (as reflected in the definition of “customer” in the extract)—are not required to obtain an individual licence for every participation scenario, provided they comply with the Order’s conditions.
Section 5 then sets out conditions of the customer’s class licence. While the extract truncates the remainder of the text, the structure indicates that customers’ lawful participation is conditional—typically on compliance with safety/security requirements, restrictions on handling or “use” of firearms or related items, and adherence to event controls. For counsel, the key is to treat these conditions as compliance triggers: if a customer breaches a condition, the customer may fall outside the class licence protection and become exposed to enforcement under the GEWCA regime.
4) Part 3: Arms demonstration exhibitions—organiser and visitor (Sections 6–9)
Part 3 is divided into two divisions:
- Division 1 — Organiser (Sections 6–7)
- Division 2 — Visitor (Sections 8–9)
Organiser as class licensee (Section 6)
Section 6 provides that the organiser of an arms demonstration exhibition and employees are class licensees. This is significant: it extends the class licence concept beyond a single legal entity to include employees, which increases the compliance footprint for the organiser. The definition of “organiser” in the extract is also important: it focuses on responsibility for promoting, conducting, or holding the exhibition, and on receiving revenue from ticket sales, while excluding certain persons (including those referenced in section 88(2) of the Act) and persons involved only by virtue of sponsorship-like arrangements.
Conditions for organiser’s class licence (Section 7)
Section 7 sets out conditions of the organiser’s class licence. In practice, these conditions are likely to include operational and safety obligations—consistent with the Order’s definition of “security and safety measures, procedures and controls”. For a practitioner advising an organiser, the compliance work typically involves: (i) ensuring secure custody and restricted access to firearms/explosives; (ii) ensuring range and boundary controls; (iii) ensuring supervision by trained personnel; and (iv) ensuring that any “use” or demonstration is conducted within the permitted scope (including the use of approved simulated ammunition/inert projectiles where applicable).
Visitor as class licensee (Sections 8–9)
Section 8 states that an arms demonstration exhibition visitor is a class licensee. The definition of “visitor” in the extract indicates that it is an individual lawfully attending in person at the premises where the exhibition is arranged or held, regardless of whether the visitor undertakes target shooting activity.
Section 9 then provides the conditions of the visitor’s class licence. This is where the legal risk for attendees often lies: visitors may be subject to restrictions on movement, access to firearms/explosives, participation in any target shooting activity, and compliance with on-site safety instructions. If visitors are permitted to observe or participate in demonstrations, the conditions likely delineate what they may do (and what they must not do) during the exhibition period—including lead-in/lead-out and connected social events.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured as follows:
- Part 1: Preliminary
- Section 1 — Citation and commencement (1 July 2025)
- Section 2 — Definitions (including key concepts such as arms demonstration exhibition, arms trade fair, security and safety measures, and “use”)
- Section 3 — Application (sets the scope of how the class licence regime applies)
- Part 2: Arms Trade Fair Customers
- Section 4 — Customer is a class licensee
- Section 5 — Conditions of the customer’s class licence
- Part 3: Arms Demonstration Exhibitions
- Division 1 — Organiser
- Section 6 — Organiser and employees are class licensees
- Section 7 — Conditions of organiser’s class licence
- Division 2 — Visitor
- Section 8 — Visitor is a class licensee
- Section 9 — Conditions of visitor’s class licence
- Division 1 — Organiser
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to specific categories of persons connected to arms exhibitions in Singapore, but only within the defined event types and time windows. It does not operate as a general firearms licensing regime for the public; rather, it creates a class licence for defined participants.
In particular, it applies to: (i) customers attending arms trade fairs (Part 2); (ii) organisers of arms demonstration exhibitions and their employees (Part 3, Division 1); and (iii) visitors attending arms demonstration exhibitions (Part 3, Division 2). Eligibility depends on whether the event qualifies as an “arms trade fair” or “arms demonstration exhibition” under the definitions, and whether the person falls within the relevant category (customer/organiser/employee/visitor).
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it operationalises the GEWCA framework for a high-risk context—events involving firearms and explosives—by providing a structured, category-based licensing mechanism. For practitioners, the key value is that it clarifies when certain participants can rely on a class licence rather than seeking separate licences, but only if they comply with the conditions imposed.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the conditions in Parts 2 and 3 are likely to be treated as mandatory. A breach could mean that a person is no longer protected by the class licence and may be exposed to offences or administrative action under the GEWCA. Accordingly, counsel should advise clients to implement event compliance systems that map responsibilities to the relevant class licence conditions—especially around security, safety, and the permitted scope of “use” and demonstrations.
Finally, the Order’s definitions—particularly those governing “security and safety measures”, “use”, and the time windows (“exhibition period” and “trade fair period”)—are crucial for risk management. They help determine what conduct is authorised, when it is authorised, and what operational controls must be in place during the entire event lifecycle, including lead-in/lead-out and connected social activities.
Related Legislation
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA 2021) — including section 56 (power to make the Order) and section 88(2) (referenced in the definition of approved simulated ammunition/inert projectiles)
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Arms Exhibitions — Class Licence) Order 2025 — SL 362/2025 (current version as at 27 March 2026)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Arms Exhibitions — Class Licence) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.