Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S196-2010
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL) notice
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Provision (Authorising): Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Instrument Number (as shown): No. S 196
- Publication/Enactment Date (as shown): Dated 8 March 2010
- Commencement Date (as stated in the notice): 31 March 2010
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Schedule: “THE SCHEDULE” (the notice refers to subsidiary legislation made under Acts set out in the Schedule)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal commencement notice issued under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain terms, it tells the public that the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared and published a revised edition of subsidiary legislation (specifically, the 2010 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation) in a loose-leaf format, and that a particular date has been appointed for it to come into force.
The notice does not itself create new regulatory rules about substantive matters (such as licensing, offences, or regulatory standards). Instead, it performs an administrative and legal-update function: it ensures that the revised compilation of subsidiary legislation—incorporating amendments up to a specified cut-off date—becomes the operative reference point for the law.
Accordingly, the practical scope of the notice is best understood as affecting how the law is accessed, cited, and applied. For practitioners, the key legal effect is that, from the appointed date, the revised loose-leaf edition is treated as the authoritative consolidated version of the subsidiary legislation listed in the Schedule (i.e., subsidiary legislation made under the Acts set out in that Schedule), incorporating amendments up to 1 March 2010.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notice is grounded in section 17(5) of Cap. 275. That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation in loose-leaf form and then to appoint a date when the revised edition comes into force. The notice therefore functions as the mechanism that activates the revised compilation.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a cut-off date
The enacting “Whereas” statement explains that the Law Revision Commissioners have caused to be published in loose-leaf form the 2010 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule. Crucially, that revised edition is said to incorporate all amendments up to 1 March 2010. This is important for legal practice because it indicates the temporal completeness of the compilation: practitioners can rely on the revised edition as reflecting amendments made up to that date.
3. Appointment of the commencement date
The operative effect of the notice is contained in the statement that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 31 March 2010 as the date the 2010 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force. In practice, this means that after 31 March 2010, the revised edition becomes the operative consolidated text for the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule.
4. Formalities and authentication
The notice is dated 8 March 2010 and signed by WALTER WOON, Chairman, Law Revision Commission. It also includes an internal reference: [AG/RSL/1/2010]. These details matter for citation and for confirming the instrument’s provenance and authority.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is brief and is organised around the standard format used for commencement notices under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The key elements are:
(a) Title and status: It is labelled “Notice under Section 17(5)” and indicates that it is the current version as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula: It includes the “Whereas” clause explaining the background—publication of the revised edition in loose-leaf form and incorporation of amendments up to 1 March 2010.
(c) The Schedule: The notice refers to “THE SCHEDULE”, which (as indicated by the text) contains the Acts under which the subsidiary legislation covered by the revised edition was made. While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the anchor for determining which subsidiary legislation is included.
(d) Commencement statement: It appoints 31 March 2010 as the date the revised edition comes into force.
(e) Date and signature: It is dated and signed by the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This notice applies to the legal system and the public in the sense that it determines when a revised compilation of subsidiary legislation becomes the authoritative version. It does not target a particular class of regulated persons (such as employers, licensees, or consumers). Instead, it affects the availability and legal status of the consolidated subsidiary legislation text.
Practically, it applies to all users of the law—including lawyers, courts, tribunals, government agencies, and regulated entities—because they must rely on the operative consolidated text when interpreting subsidiary legislation. For practitioners, the most immediate “applicability” is in legal research and citation: when referencing subsidiary legislation covered by the 2010 Revised Edition, the commencement date indicates when the revised text should be treated as current.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is not substantive regulation, it is highly important for legal certainty. Singapore’s legislative framework relies on accurate consolidation of amendments. Revised editions help ensure that practitioners are not working from outdated versions of subsidiary legislation. By appointing a commencement date, the Law Revision Commissioners provide a clear point at which the revised compilation becomes the operative reference.
For lawyers, the notice is particularly relevant in three common scenarios:
(1) Litigation and enforcement where the version of subsidiary legislation matters: If a dispute turns on the wording of a regulation, the question of which consolidated version was in force at the relevant time can be decisive. The notice helps identify the date from which the 2010 Revised Edition is effective.
(2) Advice and compliance: Compliance teams often need to confirm the current regulatory text. A revised edition reduces the risk of relying on superseded amendments or missing later changes. The notice’s reference to amendments up to 1 March 2010 provides a clear research boundary.
(3) Citation and drafting: When drafting submissions, affidavits, or contracts that incorporate regulatory standards, lawyers must cite the correct consolidated text. The existence of a revised edition and its commencement date supports accurate citation practices.
Finally, the notice illustrates the administrative architecture of Singapore’s law revision process. It shows how the Revised Edition of the Laws Act enables the Law Revision Commissioners to publish and activate consolidated subsidiary legislation, thereby supporting the broader rule-of-law objective of accessible, reliable, and up-to-date legal materials.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(5)
- Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule to this notice (the specific subsidiary instruments are identified in the Schedule, which is not reproduced in the extract)
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.