Statute Details
- Title: Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification
- Act Code: NPPA1974-N13
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206), section 34
- Current Version: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (as reflected in the extract): Sections/paragraphs 1 (citation), 2 (exemption), and 3 (deleted)
- Notable Amendment/Revision History (from extract): Revised Edition 1997 (15 Jun 1997); amended by S 13/1997; further amendment/deletion by S 110/2006 with effect from 17 Jun 2005
- Exemption Granted (from extract): The newspaper entitled “Business Day” is exempted from the provisions of section 16 of the Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification is a short piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation that operates as a targeted exemption instrument. Rather than creating a broad regulatory framework, it identifies a specific newspaper that is relieved from compliance with a particular statutory requirement—namely, the provisions of section 16 of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (the “Act”).
In plain terms, this Notification tells regulators and regulated parties that the newspaper “Business Day” does not have to comply with the obligations contained in section 16 of the Act. Exemptions of this kind are commonly used where the legislature or the relevant authority considers that a particular publication’s circumstances justify relief, whether due to operational arrangements, historical status, or other policy considerations.
Although the Notification is brief, it is legally significant because it modifies the default position under the Act. Without the exemption, the newspaper would be subject to the full force of section 16. With the exemption, the newspaper’s legal obligations are narrowed to the extent specified by the Notification.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Paragraph 1 (Citation). The Notification begins with a standard legislative provision: it may be cited as the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) (Consolidation) Notification. This matters for legal practice because citation is how lawyers, courts, and enforcement agencies refer to the instrument when arguing about applicability, scope, and compliance.
Paragraph 2 (Exemption of “Business Day”). The core operative provision is paragraph 2. It states that the newspaper entitled “Business Day” is exempted from the provisions of section 16 of the Act. The legal effect is that section 16’s requirements do not apply to that newspaper, to the extent of the exemption.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the most important interpretive question is the scope of the phrase “exempted from the provisions of section 16 of the Act.” In general, where an exemption is expressed in this manner, it is intended to remove the exempted entity from all obligations contained in that section, unless the exemption is expressly limited. Therefore, counsel should treat the exemption as a full exemption from section 16, unless there is later amendment or interpretive guidance indicating partial relief.
Paragraph 3 (Deleted). The extract indicates that paragraph 3 was deleted by S 110/2006 with effect from 17/06/2005. While the content of the deleted paragraph is not reproduced in the extract, its deletion is legally relevant: it signals that the Notification previously contained additional exemption language or other provisions that no longer form part of the current legal position. For compliance and litigation risk management, it is essential to rely on the current consolidated text rather than earlier versions.
Practical compliance point: Because the Notification is a consolidation, it is designed to present the law in a consolidated form reflecting amendments and deletions. Lawyers should still verify the current version on the official legislation platform and check the timeline to ensure they are using the correct version for the relevant period (for example, if advising on conduct before 17 June 2005).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a conventional, minimal format typical of exemption instruments. It contains:
- Section/paragraph 1: a citation provision;
- Section/paragraph 2: the operative exemption clause; and
- Section/paragraph 3: a provision that has been deleted and therefore does not apply in the current version.
There are no “Parts” or complex sub-structures in the extract. The Notification’s legal architecture is therefore straightforward: it does not set out procedures, licensing regimes, reporting duties, or enforcement mechanisms. Instead, it functions as a narrow legal lever that modifies the application of a specific section of the Act.
Because the Notification is authorised by section 34 of the Act, its structure also reflects the delegation of power: the Act provides the authority to issue exemption notifications, and the Notification exercises that delegated power for the identified newspaper.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to the newspaper entitled “Business Day”. In other words, it is not a general exemption for all newspapers or all printing presses. It is a publication-specific exemption, which is a common legislative technique when the regulator wants to tailor legal obligations to particular entities.
For legal practice, this means that the exemption should be assessed on an entity-by-entity basis. If a client operates a different newspaper, or if the client is a related corporate entity but not the newspaper specified in the Notification, the exemption may not apply. Counsel should therefore confirm the exact identity of the publication “Business Day” (including whether it is the same publication as the one historically referred to in earlier versions) and whether any corporate restructuring affects the legal identity of the “newspaper entitled ‘Business Day’”.
Additionally, because paragraph 3 has been deleted, any historical exemptions that may have existed under earlier versions would need to be evaluated by reference to the version in force at the relevant time. For advice on past compliance, the timeline (including the effect of S 110/2006 from 17 June 2005) becomes critical.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is brief, it has real compliance consequences. Section 16 of the Act is the statutory provision from which “Business Day” is exempted. In practice, section 16 likely imposes obligations that could affect editorial operations, printing arrangements, or other regulatory requirements. By exempting the newspaper, the Notification reduces the regulatory burden and potentially changes how the newspaper must structure its compliance programme.
For practitioners, the importance lies in two areas: (1) risk management and (2) regulatory strategy. Risk management requires confirming whether a client is subject to section 16 and, if so, whether any exemption applies. Regulatory strategy may involve advising whether an exemption is available, how it is typically granted, and what legal pathways exist for seeking similar relief.
Enforcement is also relevant. If the regulator were to treat “Business Day” as still subject to section 16, that would be inconsistent with the exemption in paragraph 2. Conversely, if “Business Day” were to claim broader relief than the Notification provides, that could also create legal exposure. The Notification therefore serves as a precise legal instrument that should be cited and relied upon when assessing compliance obligations.
Finally, the deletion of paragraph 3 underscores the need for version control. Consolidated instruments can change over time due to amendments and deletions. A lawyer advising on conduct across different dates must ensure that the correct legal text is applied to the relevant period.
Related Legislation
- Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206), especially section 16 (the provision from which the exemption applies) and section 34 (the authorising provision for exemption notifications).
- Printing Presses Act (noted in the metadata as related legislation).
- Legislation Timeline / Amendments (including S 13/1997 and S 110/2006 as reflected in the legislative history extract).
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.