Statute Details
- Title: Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Order 2003
- Act Code: NPPA1974-S131-2003
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206)
- Enacting authority (as stated): Senior Minister of State (charged with responsibility of the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts)
- Commencement: 1 April 2003
- Legislative instrument number: S 131/2003
- Status (per extract): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Order 2003 is a short subsidiary legislative instrument made under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206). Its practical purpose is to create a targeted exemption from a specific labelling requirement imposed on printed documents produced within Singapore.
In plain terms, the underlying Act generally requires that a document printed in Singapore must display, in a legible form, the name of its printer on the first or last printed leaf. This is a transparency and accountability measure: it helps regulators and the public identify who printed the material. However, the Exemption Order recognises that some documents printed in Singapore are intended for distribution outside Singapore, and that applying the printer-name requirement in those circumstances may be unnecessary or operationally burdensome.
Accordingly, the Order carves out a narrow exception. It allows certain documents printed in Singapore for overseas distribution to avoid the printer-name requirement, provided the printer takes two compliance steps: (1) informs the Registrar in writing before printing; and (2) prints the words “Printed in Singapore” legibly on the first or last printed leaf.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement provides the legal identity and timing of the instrument. The Order may be cited as the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Order 2003 and comes into operation on 1 April 2003. For practitioners, this matters when assessing whether a particular printing event falls within the regime created by the Order.
Section 2: Exemption is the operative provision. It states that Section 5 of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act—to the extent it relates to the requirement that a document printed within Singapore must have printed legibly on its first or last printed leaf the name of its printer—does not apply to certain documents.
The exemption is limited to documents that are printed within Singapore for distribution outside Singapore. This “purpose and destination” limitation is crucial. If the document is printed in Singapore but distributed domestically, the exemption would not apply. Conversely, if the document is printed in Singapore and intended for overseas distribution, the printer may rely on the exemption, but only if the conditions in paragraphs (a) and (b) are satisfied.
The Order then sets out two conditions that must be met by the printer:
(a) Written notification to the Registrar before printing: The printer must inform the Registrar in writing before he prints the document. This is a procedural safeguard. It ensures that the regulator is aware in advance that the printer intends to rely on the exemption, and it creates an auditable record. Practically, lawyers advising printers should ensure that the notification is sent sufficiently in advance to be “before” printing, and that it is capable of proof (e.g., by email with confirmation, courier receipt, or other documentary evidence).
(b) “Printed in Singapore” marking on the first or last leaf: Instead of printing the printer’s name, the printer must print the words “Printed in Singapore” legibly on the first or last printed leaf of the document. This preserves a form of origin transparency. The exemption does not remove the requirement that the document carry an identifiable Singapore printing origin; it simply substitutes the printer-name requirement with a standardised origin statement.
From a compliance perspective, the wording “legibly” and the placement requirement (“first or last printed leaf”) are likely to be interpreted strictly. If the words are not clearly readable or are placed incorrectly, a regulator could conclude that the exemption conditions were not met, and the underlying printer-name requirement would apply.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Exemption Order is structured in a conventional, minimal format for subsidiary legislation. It contains:
Section 1 (Citation and commencement): identifies the instrument and its effective date.
Section 2 (Exemption): sets out the scope of the exemption and the conditions for reliance. It operates by referencing the relevant provision in the parent Act (Section 5) and specifying the extent to which that provision is disapplied.
There are no additional parts or complex schedules in the extract. The instrument is therefore best understood as a targeted modification to the Act’s general labelling rule, rather than a comprehensive regulatory framework.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to printers who print documents within Singapore for distribution outside Singapore. The exemption is not framed as a benefit for publishers or distributors; it is framed as a relief from a statutory printing requirement, conditioned on actions taken by the printer (notification to the Registrar and the “Printed in Singapore” marking).
Accordingly, the practical compliance obligations fall on the entity responsible for printing—typically the printing press operator or the contracting printer. Lawyers advising publishing clients should still consider the printer’s compliance, because the publisher’s distribution plans may depend on whether the printer can lawfully produce the material under the exemption. But the legal conditions in the Order are directed at the printer’s conduct.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Exemption Order is brief, it has meaningful operational and legal consequences. The underlying Act’s printer-name requirement is a statutory labelling obligation. If a printer produces overseas-bound documents without meeting the exemption conditions, the printer may be exposed to regulatory non-compliance—potentially including enforcement action depending on the parent Act’s penalty and enforcement provisions (not reproduced in the extract).
For practitioners, the key significance lies in the Order’s risk-management function. It provides a lawful pathway for printers to avoid the printer-name requirement in overseas distribution cases, but only where the printer takes the two specified steps. This reduces uncertainty for cross-border publishing workflows, where documents may be produced in Singapore but circulated internationally under different branding or contractual arrangements.
From a drafting and interpretation standpoint, the Order also illustrates how Singapore subsidiary legislation can disapply a specific element of a parent statute “insofar as” it relates to a particular requirement. That drafting technique is common in exemptions: it narrows the disapplication to the precise part of the obligation that is being relieved, rather than removing the entire statutory regime.
Finally, the “Printed in Singapore” marking requirement preserves a measure of transparency. Even when the printer’s name is not displayed, the origin of printing remains visible to downstream recipients. This can matter for contractual representations, consumer information, and regulatory expectations in importing jurisdictions.
Related Legislation
- Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Chapter 206) — in particular, Section 5 (printer-name labelling requirement) and Section 44(1)(b) (power to make exemption orders)
- Newspaper and Printing Presses (Timeline / Legislation timeline) — for version control and confirmation of the current instrument text as at the relevant date
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Newspaper and Printing Presses (Exemption) Order 2003 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.