Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S180-2008
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), specifically section 17(5)
- Instrument Number: SL 180/2008
- Enacting Formula: Notice by the Law Revision Commissioners
- Key Legal Effect: Appoints the commencement date for the 2008 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation
- Commencement Date (as appointed by the Notice): 1 April 2008
- Date of Signing: 11 March 2008
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice under Section 17(5)” is a procedural instrument issued under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain terms, it is not a substantive regulatory law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is a formal announcement that the Law Revision Commissioners have completed a major legal consolidation exercise—namely, the publication of a revised edition of subsidiary legislation—and that this revised edition will come into force on a specified date.
The Notice explains that, under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners caused the 2008 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation (made under the Acts listed in the Schedule) to be published in loose-leaf form, incorporating amendments up to 1 March 2008. The Notice then appoints 1 April 2008 as the date when that revised edition is to take effect.
For practitioners, the practical importance of this kind of Notice is that it affects which version of the subsidiary legislation is legally operative. When a revised edition comes into force, lawyers must ensure that they are relying on the correct consolidated text, including amendments incorporated up to the cut-off date. This is particularly relevant in litigation, compliance advice, and regulatory filings where the precise wording of subsidiary legislation matters.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Invocation of section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Notice begins by referencing the statutory basis for the revision process. Section 17(5) empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish a revised edition of subsidiary legislation in loose-leaf form. The Notice states that the Commissioners have caused the 2008 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation to be published, incorporating amendments up to 1 March 2008. This establishes the scope of what has been consolidated and the temporal boundary for amendments included in the revised edition.
2. Appointment of the commencement date
The central operative effect of the Notice is contained in the statement that the Commissioners have appointed 1 April 2008 as the date the 2008 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force. In legal practice, this is the “switch date” when the revised consolidated text becomes the authoritative version for the relevant subsidiary legislation.
3. “For general information” and the nature of the instrument
The Notice is framed as a communication “for general information”. That phrasing is typical of notices that do not themselves regulate conduct but rather inform the public and legal community of a legal timing event. The legal effect flows from the Revised Edition of the Laws Act and the appointment of the commencement date, not from any new substantive rules contained in the Notice itself.
4. Formalities: date, signatory, and reference number
The Notice is dated 11 March 2008 and signed by CHAO HICK TIN, Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. It also includes a reference code [AG/RSL/1/2008]. While these elements are administrative, they are important for document control and for confirming the authenticity and provenance of the instrument when used in legal research, submissions, or internal compliance records.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is very short and is essentially composed of: (1) a heading identifying it as a Notice under section 17(5); (2) the enacting formula; (3) the operative “whereas/now, therefore” narrative; and (4) a schedule reference to the Acts under which the subsidiary legislation is made. The extract provided shows the Notice’s core text and the “THE SCHEDULE” label, indicating that the subsidiary legislation covered by the revision is tied to the Acts listed in the Schedule of the instrument.
In terms of legal research workflow, the key is to treat this Notice as a commencement and consolidation marker. It does not contain multiple sections with substantive requirements. Instead, it points users to the revised edition that has been published and tells them when that revised edition becomes effective.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Notice itself is addressed to “general information”, its legal effect applies to everyone who must rely on Singapore’s subsidiary legislation—most directly lawyers, regulators, regulated entities, and the courts. The Notice affects the legal status of the consolidated text of subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule.
Practically, regulated persons and their advisers must ensure that their compliance frameworks, internal policies, and submissions reflect the correct consolidated version of the subsidiary legislation in force from 1 April 2008. If a practitioner cites a provision from a version that predates the revised edition’s commencement, there is a risk—depending on the nature of amendments—that the cited text may not match the authoritative version.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this Notice is not a substantive regulatory instrument, it is important because it governs legal certainty and textual accuracy. Singapore’s legislative framework includes numerous pieces of subsidiary legislation, often amended over time. Consolidation into a revised edition helps ensure that the law is accessible and that practitioners can locate the correct provisions without manually tracking every amendment.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the commencement of a revised edition can be consequential. Courts and tribunals rely on the authoritative text of subsidiary legislation. If the revised edition incorporates amendments up to 1 March 2008, then from 1 April 2008 the consolidated text becomes the reference point for interpreting and applying the law. This reduces ambiguity and supports consistent application.
For practitioners, the Notice also highlights a key research principle: always check the legislation timeline and the version status when citing subsidiary legislation. The instrument itself notes that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed a specific date for the revised edition to come into force. In modern legal research platforms, the “current version” may show later amendments, but the historical commencement date remains relevant for understanding what text applied at the relevant time in a dispute or compliance assessment.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(5)
- Subsidiary Legislation revised edition (2008 Revised Edition) — the consolidated set of subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to the Notice
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Section 17(5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.