Statute Details
- Title: Price Control (Rice) Order
- Act Code: PCA1950-OR5
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Price Control Act (Chapter 244, Section 5)
- Current version status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Revised edition: Revised Edition 1990 (25th March 1992)
- Commencement (as indicated in the extract): 1st October 1990
- Key provisions (from extract): ss. 1–9 (Citation; controlled article; import/wholesale/export licensing/permission; exemptions; storage licences; revocation; offence)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Price Control (Rice) Order is a Singapore regulatory instrument made under the Price Control Act. In plain terms, it creates a licensing and permission regime for rice transactions—covering importation, wholesale dealing, and exportation—by designating rice as a “controlled article”. The Order is designed to give the Government (through the Price Controller and specified deputies/assistants) the ability to manage the supply chain and, indirectly, influence market availability and pricing conditions for rice.
While the Price Control Act provides the broader legal framework for price regulation and related controls, the Order operationalises those controls for a specific commodity: rice “of all descriptions”. This means that the restrictions apply regardless of the type or classification of rice, so long as it falls within the ordinary meaning of rice and is within the scope of “all descriptions” as declared by the Order.
Practically, the Order functions as a gatekeeping mechanism. It prevents unauthorised market participants from importing, wholesaling, or exporting rice. It also allows the Price Controller to exempt certain persons, issue storage licences under conditions (including participation in stockpile schemes), and revoke licences where compliance fails. The result is a compliance-heavy regime intended to ensure that only approved entities handle controlled rice activities.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and scope of the instrument (s. 1). The Order may be cited as the Price Control (Rice) Order. This is a standard provision, but it also signals that the document is a standalone subsidiary instrument with its own operative requirements.
2. Rice is declared a “controlled article” (s. 2). The core definitional provision states that “Rice of all descriptions is hereby declared to be a controlled article.” This declaration is crucial because it triggers the licensing and permission requirements in subsequent sections. For practitioners, the key legal question often becomes whether a particular product qualifies as “rice of all descriptions”. The breadth of the phrase suggests a wide coverage, reducing room for narrow product-based arguments.
3. Licensing to import (s. 3). Section 3 provides that no person shall import the controlled article into Singapore unless the person has a valid licence issued by the Price Controller (or a Deputy Price Controller or an Assistant Price Controller). The prohibition is categorical: importation without a valid licence is unlawful. The provision also implies that “valid licence” is a condition precedent—meaning that the legality of import activity depends on the existence and validity of the licence at the time of import.
4. Licensing for wholesale dealing (s. 4). Section 4 similarly prohibits wholesale dealing in controlled rice unless the person has a valid licence issued by the Price Controller or one of the specified office-holders. This is not limited to importers; it extends to any person “carry[ing] on any wholesale dealing”. Accordingly, entities that buy and sell rice at wholesale levels must ensure they have the relevant licence, even if they did not import the rice themselves.
5. Written permission to export (s. 5). Unlike import and wholesale dealing, export is not framed as a “licence” requirement in the extract. Instead, section 5 states that no person shall export controlled rice out of Singapore unless the person has the prior written permission of the Price Controller (or Deputy/Assistant Price Controller). The “prior written permission” requirement indicates that export activity must be authorised in advance and in writing. This creates a clear compliance checkpoint: export documentation and logistics should be aligned with the existence of written permission.
6. Power to exempt (s. 6). Section 6 empowers the Price Controller (and specified deputies/assistants) to exempt any person in writing from paragraphs 3, 4 or 5. This is an important flexibility provision. It allows the regulator to tailor the licensing/permission regime to circumstances where full licensing is unnecessary or where policy objectives can be met through alternative arrangements. For legal practice, exemptions should be treated as formal instruments: because the power requires “in writing”, reliance on informal assurances or implied approvals would be risky.
7. Licence to store and conditions (s. 7). Section 7 provides that the Price Controller (or Deputy/Assistant Price Controller) may, in his discretion, issue licences upon such conditions as he thinks fit. The provision expressly includes conditions regarding (i) the place of storage and (ii) participation in any scheme to stockpile the controlled article. This section is particularly relevant for warehousing, logistics, and inventory management. It also indicates that storage licensing is not merely about physical custody; it can be linked to national stockpile or supply stabilisation schemes. Practitioners should therefore expect that licence conditions may be operationally demanding and may require ongoing compliance.
8. Power to revoke licences (s. 8). Section 8 allows the Price Controller (or Deputy/Assistant Price Controller) to revoke the licence of any importer or wholesaler who contravenes the Order or fails to comply with any conditions of the licence. This is a strong enforcement tool. It is also a compliance incentive: even technical or partial non-compliance with licence conditions can trigger revocation. From a risk-management perspective, licence holders should maintain robust internal controls to ensure that all licence conditions are met continuously.
9. Offence and penalties reference (s. 9). Section 9 provides that any person who contravenes paragraphs 3, 4 or 5 shall be guilty of an offence under the Act and shall be liable to incur the penalties prescribed by section 16 of the Act. This links the Order’s prohibitions to the penalty regime in the parent statute. The practical implication is that breaches are not merely administrative; they are criminal offences under the Act framework, exposing individuals and businesses to prosecution and penalties as set out in section 16 of the Price Control Act.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured as a short set of operative provisions (ss. 1–9). It begins with a citation clause (s. 1), then defines the controlled article (s. 2). It proceeds to establish three main regulatory controls: (i) import licensing (s. 3), (ii) wholesale dealing licensing (s. 4), and (iii) export permission (s. 5). It then provides regulatory flexibility through an exemption power (s. 6). It addresses storage through a discretionary licensing power with condition-setting authority (s. 7). Finally, it provides enforcement mechanisms through licence revocation (s. 8) and criminal liability for contraventions (s. 9).
Notably, the extract does not show separate procedural provisions (such as application processes, appeals, or evidential rules). Those matters are typically handled either in the Price Control Act itself or through administrative practice and subsidiary instruments. For a practitioner, the key is to read the Order together with the Price Control Act—especially the offence and penalty provisions referenced in section 9.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to “any person” who imports, carries on wholesale dealing, or exports controlled rice. This includes businesses (such as importers, wholesalers, trading companies, and logistics operators) and potentially individuals acting in those capacities. The licensing requirements are directed to persons who import (s. 3) and persons who wholesale deal (s. 4), while export is governed by prior written permission (s. 5).
Additionally, the Order applies to persons who store controlled rice where a storage licence is issued or required under the regulator’s discretion (s. 7). While section 7 is framed as a power to issue licences “upon such conditions as he thinks fit”, in practice storage activities may be regulated through licensing conditions and compliance expectations. Exemptions (s. 6) can narrow the scope for particular persons, but only where the exemption is granted in writing by the Price Controller or designated officers.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Price Control (Rice) Order is important because it operationalises the Government’s ability to manage rice supply and market conduct through licensing and permission controls. Rice is a staple commodity, and the Order reflects a policy approach that prioritises oversight of who can bring rice into Singapore, who can distribute it at wholesale level, and who can remove it for export. This can be critical during periods of supply volatility, policy interventions, or stockpile management initiatives.
For lawyers advising regulated entities, the Order creates clear compliance obligations with direct legal consequences. Importing or wholesaling without a valid licence, or exporting without prior written permission, constitutes an offence under the Price Control Act framework, with penalties referenced to section 16 of the Act. The enforcement architecture is reinforced by the regulator’s power to revoke licences for contraventions or failure to comply with licence conditions.
From a practical standpoint, the Order also affects contract drafting and operational planning. Commercial agreements for rice import, wholesale distribution, or export should include compliance representations and conditions precedent tied to the existence of licences or written permissions. Warehousing and inventory arrangements should be aligned with storage licence conditions, including any stockpile participation requirements. In disputes, the existence (or absence) of a licence or permission may be determinative of legality and may influence remedies, regulatory exposure, and risk allocation.
Related Legislation
- Price Control Act (Chapter 244) — in particular, section 5 (authorising the making of the Order) and section 16 (penalties referenced by section 9 of the Order).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Price Control (Rice) Order for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.