Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S619-2009
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL) notice
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 17(5)
- Legislation Number: S 619/2009
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Commencement / Effective Date stated in the notice: 15 December 2009
- Enacting Formula / Instrument: THE SCHEDULE (as presented in the extract) and the operative notice text
- Key Provision (substantive effect): Appointment of the date on which the “2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation” comes into force
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal Law Revision Commission notice issued under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain terms, it tells the legal community when a particular “revised edition” of subsidiary legislation—incorporating amendments up to a specified cut-off date—becomes legally effective.
The notice is not a substantive regulatory measure that creates new obligations for the public. Instead, it performs an important legal housekeeping function: it confirms the date on which the revised compilation of subsidiary legislation (made under specified Acts listed in the Schedule) is treated as the operative version for legal reference and enforcement.
Specifically, the notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners had caused to be published in loose-leaf form the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule, incorporating amendments up to 15 November 2009. The notice then appoints 15 December 2009 as the date the revised edition comes into force.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory authority and purpose (preamble / “Whereas” clauses)
The notice begins with an enacting formula that anchors it to section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The “Whereas” language explains the procedural background: the Law Revision Commissioners have published the 2009 revised edition in loose-leaf form, incorporating amendments up to 15 November 2009. This matters because it clarifies the scope of incorporation—i.e., the revised edition is intended to reflect the law as amended through that cut-off date.
2. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition
The operative statement is that it is “hereby notified for general information” that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 15 December 2009 as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force. Practitioners should treat this as the effective date for the revised compilation’s legal status.
3. “For general information” and legal effect
The notice is framed as a public notification. While the instrument itself is short, its legal significance lies in the way revised editions are used in practice. Revised editions are typically relied upon for authoritative statements of subsidiary legislation. By appointing a commencement date, the notice ensures that lawyers, courts, regulators, and the public can identify the version of subsidiary legislation that is to be treated as current as of that date.
4. Formal execution and identification
The notice is dated 2 December 2009 and signed by WALTER WOON, Chairman, Law Revision Commission. It also includes an internal reference: [AG/RSL/1/2009]. These details are not merely administrative; they help confirm the instrument’s authenticity and the issuing authority.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is a notice rather than a multi-part statute. The extract shows the typical presentation of a subsidiary legislation notice on a legal database: it includes the status line (“Current version as at 27 Mar 2026”), printing options, and a timeline/versioning interface.
Substantively, the notice comprises:
- Enacting formula / preamble referencing section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act;
- THE SCHEDULE heading (as displayed in the extract), which indicates that the revised edition relates to subsidiary legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule;
- Operative paragraph appointing 15 December 2009 as the date the revised edition comes into force;
- Signature block and date of signing.
Because the instrument is essentially a commencement/notification mechanism, it does not contain detailed regulatory provisions, definitions, offences, or enforcement mechanisms. Its “structure” is therefore best understood as a procedural legal instrument that activates the revised compilation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice applies to everyone in the sense that it affects the authoritative legal text of subsidiary legislation. In practice, its impact is felt most directly by:
- Legal practitioners who need to cite the correct version of subsidiary legislation;
- Courts and tribunals that rely on authoritative texts when interpreting subsidiary legislation;
- Government agencies and regulators that administer subsidiary legislation and must ensure they are applying the correct consolidated version;
- Members of the public indirectly, because the operative legal text determines what rules are enforceable.
However, it is important to clarify that the notice does not itself impose new duties or penalties. Instead, it determines when a revised edition of subsidiary legislation becomes the legally effective compilation. The substantive obligations (if any) come from the subsidiary legislation within that revised edition, not from this notice.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is brief, it is highly significant for legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate consolidation and revision of legislation. Revised editions help ensure that the law is accessible and that amendments are properly incorporated into a coherent text. By appointing a commencement date, the Law Revision Commission notice provides a clear temporal anchor for when the revised compilation should be treated as current.
For practitioners, the practical importance is twofold. First, it affects citation and reliance. When drafting submissions, preparing advice, or conducting compliance reviews, lawyers must ensure they are working from the correct version of subsidiary legislation. A revised edition that comes into force on a specific date can change the numbering, consolidation, or presentation of provisions, even if the underlying substantive law remains the same.
Second, it supports enforcement and adjudication consistency. Regulators and courts must apply the correct legal text. A formal notice under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act reduces ambiguity about which consolidated version is authoritative at a given time. This is particularly important where amendments have been made up to a cut-off date (here, 15 November 2009) but the revised edition is only brought into force later (here, 15 December 2009).
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(5) (the authorising provision for this notice)
- Subsidiary legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule (as incorporated into the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation)
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.