Statute Details
- Title: Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Notification
- Act Code: NPPA1974-N9
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Notification)
- Authorising Act: Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206, Section 34)
- Citation: “Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Notification”
- Legislative Instrument Reference: G.N. No. S 521/1991
- Revised Edition: 1993 RevEd (1 April 1993)
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per platform display)
- Commencement Date: Not stated in the extract (instrument references indicate 1 December 1991 for the original notification)
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation); Section 2 (Exemption)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Notification is a short piece of subsidiary legislation made under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Cap. 206). Its practical purpose is to carve out a limited exemption from the regulatory requirements in section 3 of the parent Act for certain printing presses.
In plain language, the Notification recognises that not every printing press used in Singapore is intended for public dissemination of news or printed materials. Some presses are kept and used by organisations and companies to print their own documents—such as internal publications, corporate materials, or other non-public-facing documents. For those in-house uses, the Notification exempts the relevant printing presses from the licensing/registration-type control that would otherwise apply under section 3 of the Act.
Because the Notification is an exemption instrument, it does not create a new regulatory regime. Instead, it modifies the reach of the parent Act by identifying a specific category of printing presses that fall outside section 3. The legal question for practitioners is therefore not “what new duties are imposed?”, but rather “does a particular press qualify for the exemption, and what are the consequences if it does not?”
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal citation of the Notification. While this is usually procedural, it matters for legal drafting and compliance documentation. When referencing the exemption in internal policies, correspondence with regulators, or in submissions, parties typically cite the Notification by its proper name.
Section 2 (Exemption) is the substantive operative provision. It states that all printing presses kept and used by organisations and companies for the sole purpose of printing their own documents are exempted from section 3 of the Act.
This exemption has three core elements that must be satisfied:
(1) The press must be “kept and used” by an organisation or company. The exemption is not framed for individuals acting outside corporate or organisational structures. Practically, this points to corporate entities, registered organisations, and similar bodies that maintain printing equipment as part of their operations.
(2) The press must be used for the “sole purpose” of printing the organisation’s or company’s own documents. The phrase “sole purpose” is legally significant. It implies that if the press is used for any other purpose—such as printing third-party materials, distributing content for others, or producing documents beyond the organisation’s own needs—the exemption may fail. Lawyers advising clients should therefore treat “sole purpose” as a strict condition, not a flexible one.
(3) The exemption is from “section 3 of the Act”. The extract does not reproduce section 3, but the structure of the parent Act indicates that section 3 is the provision that imposes the relevant regulatory control (commonly licensing/permission or similar requirements for printing presses). The Notification removes the need to comply with that specific section for qualifying presses.
Practical compliance implications flow from these elements. For example, if an organisation uses its press to print materials for internal staff only, that is consistent with “own documents.” However, if the same press is used to print brochures or publications for external clients, even occasionally, the “sole purpose” requirement becomes difficult to defend. Similarly, if the press is used to print materials that are not clearly “own documents” (for instance, commissioned publications, promotional materials for third parties, or content intended for sale or distribution by others), the exemption may not apply.
Because the Notification is brief, it does not provide definitions (such as what counts as “own documents”) or procedural steps (such as application for exemption). That means practitioners must interpret the terms in context, using the parent Act and general principles of statutory interpretation. In disputes or regulatory inquiries, the factual record—how the press is used, who controls it, what materials are printed, and whether third-party printing occurs—will be central.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured as a short instrument with two numbered provisions:
- Section 1: Citation provision (how the Notification may be referred to).
- Section 2: The exemption clause (the substantive rule).
There are no parts, schedules, or detailed procedural mechanisms in the extract. The Notification operates as a targeted legal adjustment to the parent Act by exempting a defined class of printing presses from section 3.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to printing presses kept and used by organisations and companies. In other words, it is directed at the operators/holders of printing presses within corporate or organisational settings. The Notification does not apply to presses used by individuals outside an organisation/company context, and it does not apply to presses used for purposes other than printing the operator’s own documents.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key is to determine whether the client’s printing activities fall within the exemption’s factual boundaries. The exemption is not “automatic” in the sense of being granted upon registration; rather, it applies if the statutory conditions are met. Therefore, the client’s operational practices—particularly whether the press is used exclusively for internal/own-document printing—determine applicability.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is short, it can have significant regulatory and operational consequences. If a printing press is not exempt, the parent Act’s section 3 requirements may apply. Those requirements can affect compliance costs, administrative burden, and potentially the legality of operating the press without the required authorisation.
For many organisations, in-house printing is routine. The Notification provides legal certainty that such routine operations—when confined to printing the organisation’s own documents—do not trigger the more stringent controls intended for presses that contribute to the public dissemination of printed material. This supports business efficiency and reduces unnecessary regulation for internal corporate functions.
At the same time, the exemption’s strict wording (“sole purpose” and “own documents”) means that organisations must manage their printing workflows carefully. A common risk is “scope creep”: using an in-house press for external printing requests, marketing collateral for third parties, or commissioned publications. Lawyers should advise clients to implement clear internal policies, maintain records of printed materials, and ensure that any third-party printing is either excluded or handled through a different compliant channel.
Enforcement risk is therefore tied to factual compliance. If regulators determine that a press is used beyond the exemption’s scope, the organisation may be exposed to regulatory action for operating without satisfying section 3. Even where enforcement is unlikely, the absence of a clear compliance framework can complicate legal defence and increase uncertainty in audits or investigations.
Related Legislation
- Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Cap. 206), in particular section 3 (to which the exemption applies) and section 34 (the authorising provision for making the Notification).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Notification for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.