Statute Details
- Title: Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification
- Act Code: NPPA1974-N13
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (Notification)
- Authorising Act: Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206, section 34)
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislative database display)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2; section 3 deleted
- Notable Amendment/Revision History (from extract):
- Revised Edition 1997 (15 Jun 1997)
- Amended by S 13/1997 (effective 17 Jun 2005)
- Section 3 deleted by S 110/2006 with effect from 17/06/2005
- Publication reference: G.N. No. S 110/2006; Revised Edition 1997 (15th June 1997)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification is a Singapore subsidiary legal instrument that grants a specific exemption from a particular regulatory requirement under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act. In plain terms, it identifies at least one newspaper that is not subject to a defined provision of the Act—meaning the newspaper does not have to comply with that provision, at least for the duration and scope of the exemption.
Notifications of this kind are typically used to tailor the application of a regulatory regime to particular entities or circumstances. Rather than rewriting the main Act, the Government uses the authorising power in the Act to exempt certain newspapers from specified obligations. This approach supports regulatory flexibility while maintaining the overall framework of control and oversight for printing presses and newspapers.
From the extract provided, the Notification is concise and focused. It contains a citation provision and a single operative exemption: the newspaper titled “Business Day” is exempted from the provisions of section 16 of the Act. A further provision (section 3) existed historically but has been deleted in a later amendment.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation). The Notification provides its short title: “This Notification may be cited as the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification.” This is a standard drafting feature that helps practitioners and regulated parties refer to the instrument accurately in correspondence, compliance documentation, and legal submissions.
Section 2 (Operative exemption for “Business Day”). The central legal effect is in section 2. It states that the newspaper entitled “Business Day” is exempted from the provisions of section 16 of the Act. The practical consequence is that, for the newspaper “Business Day,” the obligations (or restrictions) imposed by section 16 do not apply. The exemption is “from the provisions of section 16,” which suggests a full exemption from that section’s requirements rather than a partial or conditional exemption—unless section 16 itself is interpreted as containing multiple discrete obligations and the exemption is construed narrowly. However, the wording “exempted from the provisions of section 16” generally indicates that the entire section is disapplied for the exempted newspaper.
Section 3 (Deleted provision). The extract indicates that section 3 was deleted by S 110/2006 with effect from 17/06/2005. While the content of the deleted section is not shown in the extract, its deletion signals that the Notification previously contained additional exemptions or related provisions that are no longer in force. For practitioners, this highlights the importance of checking the current version and the legislative timeline when assessing whether any additional exemptions exist beyond the current section 2.
Interplay with section 16 of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act. Although the extract does not reproduce section 16, the exemption’s legal significance depends on what section 16 requires. In practice, counsel would need to consult the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206) to determine the compliance burden from which “Business Day” is exempt. Common regulatory schemes in this area may involve licensing, registration, conditions relating to printing presses, or obligations concerning publication practices. The exemption therefore operates as a targeted relief from whatever compliance mechanism section 16 establishes.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a minimal, “short-form” way typical of exemption instruments. It contains:
(a) A citation section (section 1), which identifies the instrument; and
(b) One operative exemption provision (section 2), which names the newspaper and disapplies section 16 of the Act for that newspaper.
(c) A historical third provision (section 3), which has been deleted. The deletion is relevant because it confirms that the Notification’s current operative content is essentially limited to section 2.
Because the Notification is a subsidiary instrument, it does not stand alone: it is designed to be read together with the authorising Act and the specific provision being exempted (section 16). The authorising Act (section 34) provides the legal basis for issuing exemptions by notification.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the Notification applies to the newspaper entitled “Business Day.” The exemption is entity-specific: it is not framed as a category (e.g., “business newspapers” or “financial publications”) but as a named newspaper. Accordingly, the exemption’s benefits and legal effect attach to that particular newspaper title.
Practically, this means that compliance teams for “Business Day” should treat section 16 of the Act as not applicable to them, while still assessing whether other provisions of the Act (and any other subsidiary legislation) apply. Conversely, other newspapers are not automatically covered by the exemption merely because they are in a similar industry or subject matter. Unless another notification grants an exemption to a different newspaper, other publishers must comply with section 16.
Lawyers should also consider whether “Business Day” refers to a specific publication title at a particular time, and whether changes in ownership, branding, or publication format could affect whether the exemption remains applicable. The Notification’s wording is tied to the “newspaper entitled ‘Business Day’,” so factual and documentary confirmation of the publication’s title and identity would be important in any compliance or enforcement context.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Notification is brief, it can be highly consequential for regulatory compliance. Exemptions are often the difference between a lawful publication activity and a breach of statutory requirements. For “Business Day,” the exemption from section 16 means that the newspaper does not need to satisfy whatever obligations section 16 imposes. This can affect licensing workflows, administrative filings, operational timelines, and internal compliance controls.
From an enforcement perspective, the existence of a specific exemption reduces the risk of regulatory action for conduct that would otherwise fall within section 16’s scope. However, exemptions also require careful boundary management. If a newspaper’s activities extend beyond what the exemption covers—or if the exemption is interpreted narrowly—there may still be exposure under other provisions of the Act or under other regulatory regimes.
For practitioners advising publishers, the Notification is also a reminder to conduct version-accurate legal research. The legislative timeline indicates that section 3 was deleted effective 17/06/2005, and the Notification has a current version as at 27 Mar 2026. Counsel should therefore avoid relying on outdated versions or assumptions that earlier exemptions remain in force. In addition, because the exemption is tied to a specific section of the Act, legal advice should be anchored to the current text of section 16 and any amendments to the Act itself.
Related Legislation
- Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206), including section 16 (the provision from which “Business Day” is exempted) and section 34 (the authorising provision for issuing exemptions by notification)
- Printing Presses Act (referenced in the metadata as related legislation)
- Legislative timeline / amendments instruments referenced in the extract:
- S 13/1997
- S 110/2006
- Revised Edition 1997 (15th June 1997)
- G.N. No. S 110/2006
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.