Statute Details
- Title: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Theatrical Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Act Code: GEWCA2021-S365-2025
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021
- Enacting Power: Section 56 of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021
- Commencement: 1 July 2025
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative Citation: SL 365/2025 (dated 1 July 2025 in the timeline)
- Parts / Structure: Part 1 (Preliminary); Part 2 (Theatrical Productions); Part 3 (Counter-terrorism Exercise)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 2 (Definitions); Sections 4–9 (class licences for producers, actors, employees); Sections 10–11 (role play in counter-terrorism exercise)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Theatrical Use — Class Licence) Order 2025 (“the Order”) creates a regulated, structured pathway for certain theatrical activities in Singapore to use specified “class licensable weaponry” without requiring a bespoke licence for every participant. In practical terms, it recognises that film, television and theatre productions sometimes need props or simulated weapons for staging, choreography, and performance—yet it also treats weapons and weapon-like items as controlled items under Singapore’s weapons regulatory framework.
The Order sits under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (“GEWCA 2021”). It is made by the Minister for Home Affairs and is designed to operationalise a “class licence” model: instead of applying for an individual licence each time, eligible persons involved in theatrical productions (and certain role-players in counter-terrorism exercises) may be treated as “class licensees” if they meet the conditions set out in the Order.
In addition to theatrical productions, the Order addresses a second context: counter-terrorism exercises. These exercises often require realistic simulation of serious incidents. The Order therefore provides a controlled mechanism for role-play involving specified weaponry, while embedding safeguards through definitions and conditions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation, commencement, and the legal mechanism
Section 1 provides the citation and commencement: the Order comes into operation on 1 July 2025. The Order is made under section 56 of GEWCA 2021, indicating that Parliament has authorised the Minister to prescribe class licensing arrangements for particular regulated activities. This is important for practitioners because it frames the Order as a legally binding instrument that modifies how the Act applies to certain activities—particularly by creating a category of authorisation that is broader than an individual licence but narrower than a general exemption.
2. Definitions that control scope and compliance
Section 2 is central. It defines the terms that determine who can rely on the class licence and what items may be used. Several definitions are especially significant:
- “Authorised by or under the Act” includes authorisation by a provision in the Act, a licence or a class licence, or an exemption under specified sections (87, 88, 89). This definition anchors compliance: if a person is not authorised, they risk committing an offence under GEWCA 2021.
- “Class licensable weaponry” is a closed list of items that may be used under the class licence framework: (a) a blunted bayonet, (b) a blunted stabbing weapon, (c) a blank firing firearm, or (d) a deactivated gun. The “closed list” approach is a key compliance point—productions cannot assume that any prop weapon qualifies.
- “Blank firing firearm” is defined as a firearm modified for use using only blank cartridges. This matters because it distinguishes blank-firing devices from live firearms.
- “Deactivated gun” requires permanent inoperability or permanent sealing of the breech, chamber and barrel. Practitioners should treat this as a technical standard that must be evidenced.
- “Blunted bayonet” / “blunted stabbing weapon” require that cutting edges and points are modified to be blunt and not capable of causing serious injury or death. This is a safety threshold that likely requires objective assessment and documentation.
- “Counter-terrorism exercise” is defined by reference to the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces, and Singapore Civil Defence Force, and the purpose of simulating a serious incident for training, controlling public disorder, restoring public order, or apprehending persons responsible.
- “Actor” includes a stunt performer. This expands the class licence’s practical reach to stunt work, which is often where weapon-like props are used.
- “Employee” includes volunteers and trainees working on an ongoing and regular basis, or receiving on-the-job training/work experience. This is crucial for productions that rely on volunteers, interns, or trainees.
- “Staging” is defined broadly to include arrangements necessary for performance, including elements not consisting of sounds. This supports an argument that choreography and stage direction fall within the regulated “staging” concept.
3. Producer, actor, and employee class licences (Part 2)
Although the extract does not reproduce the full text of sections 4–9, the enacting structure is clear: Part 2 is divided into three divisions—Producer, Actor, and Employee—each establishing that a particular category of person “is class licensee” and then setting out “conditions” for that class licence.
For practitioners, the key takeaway is that the Order is not merely definitional; it creates a compliance framework with role-based authorisation. The likely legal effect is that:
- Section 4 identifies the producer of a theatrical production as a class licensee.
- Section 5 sets conditions that the producer must satisfy to lawfully use or possess class licensable weaponry for staging.
- Section 6 identifies the actor in a theatrical production as a class licensee.
- Section 7 sets conditions applicable to the actor’s class licence—typically concerning how the actor may handle, use, and store the weaponry, and possibly training or supervision requirements.
- Section 8 identifies an employee in a theatrical production as a class licensee.
- Section 9 sets conditions applicable to the employee’s class licence.
Because the Order is made under GEWCA 2021, these conditions should be read as mandatory prerequisites to lawful possession/carrying/usage. In practice, counsel advising production companies should treat the conditions as the “gate” to authorisation: if the conditions are not met, the person may no longer be “authorised by or under the Act” and could be exposed to criminal liability.
4. Counter-terrorism exercise role-play (Part 3)
Part 3 addresses “role play in counter-terrorism exercise” and provides for a role-playing class licence. The extract shows sections 10 and 11, indicating:
- Section 10 defines or characterises “role play” in the counter-terrorism context.
- Section 11 sets conditions of the role-playing class licence.
For lawyers, the significance is that the Order extends class licensing beyond entertainment productions into operational training. This is likely to involve stricter control measures, because the purpose is simulation of serious incidents and because participants may include members of security and emergency services. Even where the exercise is organised by the relevant agencies, the Order’s conditions would still matter for any weapon-like props used during the simulation.
5. Application and exclusions
Section 3 is also important. It provides that the Order does not extend to an individual who is exempt by or under sections 87 or 88 of GEWCA 2021. In other words, the class licence framework is not intended to overlap with certain statutory exemptions. Section 3(2) further states that the application of paragraphs 4, 6, 8 or 10 to a person is subject to section 66(1) and (2)(c) of GEWCA 2021. This signals that GEWCA 2021 contains additional eligibility or limitation rules that can affect whether a person can rely on the class licence.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in three parts:
- Part 1 (Preliminary): Contains the citation and commencement (section 1), definitions (section 2), and application/exclusions (section 3).
- Part 2 (Theatrical Productions): Divided into three divisions:
- Division 1 (Producer): sections 4–5.
- Division 2 (Actor): sections 6–7.
- Division 3 (Employee): sections 8–9.
- Part 3 (Counter-terrorism Exercise): Contains sections 10–11 on role play and conditions of the role-playing class licence.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to persons involved in theatrical productions in Singapore—specifically producers, actors (including stunt performers), and employees (including volunteers and trainees in defined circumstances). It also applies to role-players participating in counter-terrorism exercises organised by or on behalf of the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces, or Singapore Civil Defence Force.
However, the Order’s authorisation is not automatic. It is conditional on meeting the relevant “conditions” for each class licence category and on the person being within the scope of section 3 and subject to the limitations referenced in GEWCA 2021 (notably section 66(1) and (2)(c)). Additionally, the Order does not extend to individuals who are exempt under sections 87 or 88 of GEWCA 2021, meaning those individuals must rely on the relevant exemption regime rather than the class licence.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it operationalises a balance between public safety and creative production needs. By limiting “class licensable weaponry” to specific categories (blunted bayonets, blunted stabbing weapons, blank firing firearms, and deactivated guns), the Order reduces ambiguity and prevents overbroad reliance on “prop” arguments. For counsel, this creates a clear compliance checklist: confirm the item falls within the statutory definition and then confirm the handling and possession are within the class licence conditions.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the Order matters because GEWCA 2021 is a criminal regulatory framework. If a production uses weaponry outside the class licensable categories, or if participants fail to comply with the conditions attached to their class licence, they may lose the protection of being “authorised by or under the Act.” That can convert a safety-managed production into a potential weapons offence scenario.
Practically, the Order also clarifies roles and responsibilities. Because the class licence is role-based (producer, actor, employee), legal advice should be tailored to each stakeholder: production companies should ensure contractual and operational arrangements satisfy producer conditions; stunt coordinators and actors should be trained and supervised to meet actor conditions; and volunteers/trainees should be properly integrated to fall within the “employee” definition and comply with employee conditions.
Related Legislation
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (authorising Act; including sections 56, 66, 87, 88, 89 and the offence framework)
- Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act 2018 (definition cross-reference for “act of serious violence” and “serious incident”)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Theatrical Use — 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.