Statute Details
- Title: National Registry of Diseases (Specified Entity for Cancer) Notification 2009
- Act Code: NRDA2007-S355-2009
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: National Registry of Diseases Act (Chapter 201B)
- Enacting authority: Minister for Health
- Key enabling provision: Section 24(2) of the National Registry of Diseases Act
- Commencement: 1 August 2009
- Legislative status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Primary subject matter: Declaration of a “specified entity for cancer” for the purposes of section 24 of the Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The National Registry of Diseases (Specified Entity for Cancer) Notification 2009 is a short but legally significant instrument. Its central purpose is to designate a particular organisation as a “specified entity for cancer” under the National Registry of Diseases Act (Chapter 201B). In practical terms, the Notification identifies who is authorised (or required) to play a role in relation to cancer-related disease registry functions contemplated by the parent Act.
Under the National Registry of Diseases Act, the Government establishes a framework for the collection, use, and management of disease-related information for public health and research purposes. The Act contemplates that different “specified entities” may be designated for different disease categories or contexts. This Notification is one such designation, specifically for cancer.
Although the Notification contains only two operative provisions, it operates as a gateway legal step: it determines which body falls within the statutory category of “specified entity for cancer”. That designation can affect how the parent Act’s mechanisms apply—particularly those provisions that rely on whether an entity has been formally declared under section 24 of the Act.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement provides the formal identity of the instrument and when it takes effect. It states that the Notification may be cited as the “National Registry of Diseases (Specified Entity for Cancer) Notification 2009” and that it comes into operation on 1 August 2009. For practitioners, commencement is critical when assessing whether any obligations, permissions, or legal consequences were triggered at a particular time (for example, for historical compliance reviews or for determining the applicable legal regime for events occurring before or after 1 August 2009).
Section 2: Specified entity for cancer is the operative designation. It declares that the National Registry of Diseases Office of the Health Promotion Board is to be treated as a specified entity for cancer for the purposes of section 24 of the National Registry of Diseases Act.
This provision is drafted in a manner typical of Singapore subsidiary legislation: it does not itself create a detailed regulatory scheme. Instead, it performs a “designation” function—identifying the relevant organisation so that the parent Act’s section 24 can operate as intended. In other words, the Notification supplies the factual/legal “label” that activates the statutory consequences attached to being a specified entity.
Legal significance of the designation lies in how section 24 of the Act is structured. While the Notification extract does not reproduce section 24, the enabling clause in the Notification indicates that the Minister’s power under section 24(2) is to declare specified entities. Accordingly, the designation in section 2 should be read together with the parent Act’s section 24 to determine the rights, duties, or procedural requirements that apply to the designated entity. For example, section 24 may govern aspects such as the role of specified entities in relation to disease registry data, governance arrangements, or the handling of information for cancer-related purposes.
From a compliance and litigation perspective, the key point is that the Health Promotion Board’s National Registry of Diseases Office is not merely an administrative participant; it is formally brought within the statutory category for cancer. If a party is assessing whether a particular organisation had the legal standing to perform registry functions for cancer under the Act, the Notification is the primary instrument to consult.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured as a compact instrument with a standard enacting formula and two substantive provisions.
Enacting formula: The Minister for Health makes the Notification “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 24(2) of the National Registry of Diseases Act”. This indicates that the Notification is an exercise of delegated legislative power and must remain within the scope of the enabling provision.
Section 1 (Citation and commencement): Sets out the name and the date the Notification takes effect.
Section 2 (Specified entity for cancer): Performs the designation of the specified entity. It is the only provision that substantively changes the legal landscape by identifying the organisation that is treated as a specified entity for cancer under section 24 of the Act.
There are no schedules, definitions sections, or procedural rules in the Notification itself. Practitioners should therefore treat it as a “designation instrument” and read it alongside the National Registry of Diseases Act—particularly section 24 and any other provisions that refer to “specified entities”.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
In terms of direct legal effect, the Notification applies to the National Registry of Diseases Office of the Health Promotion Board by declaring it to be a specified entity for cancer. The designation is also relevant to other stakeholders indirectly, such as data providers, healthcare institutions, researchers, and regulators, because the parent Act’s provisions may impose obligations or confer permissions depending on whether the recipient or responsible organisation is a specified entity.
More broadly, the Notification forms part of the statutory architecture governing cancer registry activities. Therefore, while the Notification names a specific entity, it can affect the compliance posture of parties that interact with that entity under the National Registry of Diseases Act. For example, where the Act regulates the flow of disease-related information to specified entities, the designation determines which organisation is within the regulated category.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Notification is brief, it is legally important because it determines who is authorised or required to act within the cancer registry framework under the National Registry of Diseases Act. In public health and data governance contexts, the identity of the responsible entity is not a mere administrative detail—it can be determinative of whether statutory conditions are met.
For practitioners advising on regulatory compliance, the Notification is a key reference point. If a client is involved in cancer-related disease registry matters—such as data submission, data sharing, or governance—counsel must confirm that the receiving or operating body is properly designated. The Notification provides the formal legal basis for the Health Promotion Board’s National Registry of Diseases Office to be treated as the specified entity for cancer.
From an enforcement and risk management perspective, the designation also helps ensure that registry functions are carried out by the correct statutory entity. If an organisation were to perform cancer registry functions without being properly designated, it could raise questions about compliance with the parent Act’s requirements and about the legality of any downstream use of registry information.
Finally, the commencement date (1 August 2009) matters for time-sensitive matters. If there is a dispute about whether certain actions were taken under the correct legal regime, the commencement provision allows practitioners to anchor the analysis to the effective date of the designation.
Related Legislation
- National Registry of Diseases Act (Chapter 201B) — in particular, section 24 (including the Minister’s power under section 24(2) to declare specified entities)
- National Registry of Diseases (Timeline / Authorising Act references) — as indicated in the legislation metadata and timeline materials associated with the subsidiary legislation
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the National Registry of Diseases (Specified Entity for Cancer) Notification 2009 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.