Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S619-2009
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Instrument Number: S 619
- Commencement/Effective Date (as notified): 15 December 2009
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Basis: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Enacting Body: Law Revision Commissioners
- Signature/Date: Dated 2 December 2009; signed by WALTER WOON (Chairman, Law Revision Commission)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal notice issued under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). In plain terms, it tells the public—and legal practitioners—that a particular revised compilation of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation will come into force on a specified date.
Although the notice is short, its legal function is important. Singapore periodically produces revised editions of laws (including subsidiary legislation) that incorporate amendments up to a cut-off date. This notice confirms the commencement date for the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to the notice. Once the revised edition comes into force, practitioners must rely on that consolidated version for the authoritative text of the relevant subsidiary legislation.
In other words, the notice does not create new substantive regulatory rules by itself. Instead, it operates as a gateway instrument that activates a revised legal publication—ensuring that the legal community and the public can use a consistent, updated text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Legal authority under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notice is expressly grounded on section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The operative effect of section 17(5) is that the Law Revision Commissioners may cause revised subsidiary legislation to be published in a loose-leaf form, incorporating amendments up to a specified date, and then appoint a date for that revised edition to come into force.
Practically, this means the notice is the mechanism by which the revised edition becomes legally effective. Without such a notice, the revised compilation would not necessarily be treated as the operative authoritative text for the relevant subsidiary legislation.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a cut-off date
The notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners have 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 all amendments up to 15th November 2009. This is a key point for legal research and litigation: it identifies the temporal boundary for what changes are included in the revised edition.
For practitioners, this cut-off date matters when advising on whether a particular amendment is reflected in the revised text. If an amendment occurred after 15 November 2009 but before 15 December 2009 (the commencement date), there may be a gap between the amendment’s enactment and its incorporation into the revised edition. In such cases, counsel should check the amendment instrument and the effective date of the amendment itself, rather than relying solely on the revised edition.
3. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition
The central operative statement is that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 15th December 2009 as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force.
This appointment is the legal event that practitioners must track. From 15 December 2009 onward, the revised edition is the authoritative consolidated text for the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule. This affects:
- how counsel cites provisions in pleadings, submissions, and affidavits;
- how courts interpret the “current” wording of subsidiary legislation; and
- how compliance advice is framed (e.g., whether a requirement is worded as amended).
4. Notice for general information and formalities
The notice is framed “for general information” and is dated 2 December 2009, signed by the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. While these are formalities, they also confirm that the instrument is a public notification rather than a private directive.
For practitioners, the formal citation and instrument number (S 619) are important when retrieving the correct version and when cross-referencing the legislation timeline. The notice also contains an internal reference: [AG/RSL/1/2009], which can assist in locating related administrative records or publication documentation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short notice with an Enacting Formula and a Schedule. The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract you provided) would list the Acts under which the subsidiary legislation covered by the 2009 Revised Edition was made.
In practical terms, the structure is designed to do two things:
- Identify the legal basis (section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act); and
- Define the scope of subsidiary legislation affected (by reference to the Acts listed in the Schedule).
Because the notice is not a substantive regulatory code, it does not contain detailed “sections” setting out obligations, offences, or enforcement powers. Instead, it functions as a publication/commencement notice for a revised legal compilation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice applies to the legal system and the public in the sense that it determines the effective date of the revised edition of subsidiary legislation. Its direct “addressees” are not regulated persons in the way a licensing or regulatory statute would be. Rather, it applies to users of the law—courts, government agencies, regulated entities, and members of the public—by establishing which consolidated text is operative from the commencement date.
However, the practical effect is that regulated parties affected by the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule must ensure that their compliance and legal interpretation align with the revised edition as of 15 December 2009. In litigation, counsel must also ensure that citations reflect the correct version in force at the relevant time.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this notice is brief, it is highly significant for legal research, statutory interpretation, and case preparation. Singapore’s legal practice depends on accurate citation and correct identification of the operative text of legislation. Revised editions can change numbering, formatting, and sometimes wording (to reflect amendments). A commencement notice like this ensures that the legal community can confidently treat the revised compilation as authoritative from a specific date.
For practitioners, the most important implications are:
- Version control: When advising clients or drafting submissions, counsel must know whether the relevant subsidiary legislation is to be read as per the pre-revision text or the 2009 Revised Edition. The notice provides the pivot date.
- Amendment cut-off awareness: The notice specifies that amendments are incorporated up to 15 November 2009. This helps practitioners determine whether an amendment might not yet appear in the revised edition.
- Accurate citation: Courts and tribunals expect correct references to the operative legal text. Using the wrong version can lead to misstatements of the law.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notice indirectly affects regulated entities by clarifying the authoritative text they should consult. Even where the substantive regulatory requirements remain unchanged, the consolidated presentation can affect how obligations are understood and applied (for example, by clarifying definitions, procedural steps, or cross-references).
Finally, the notice’s “current version as at 27 March 2026” status indicates that the instrument remains part of the legal record and continues to be accessible as a reference point. While the commencement date is historical (15 December 2009), the notice remains relevant for understanding the legal publication history and for confirming the effective date of the revised edition.
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 listed in the Schedule — the specific regulations/orders covered by the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation (as identified in the Schedule to this 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.