Statute Details
- Title: Prohibition of Imports (Volcanic Rock Aggregates) Order
- Act Code: CIEA1950-OR11
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Control of Imports and Exports Act (Cap. 56), s 3
- Status: Revoked (current version indicates “Revoked”)
- Revocation Instrument: Revoked by S 530/95
- Effective date of revocation: 1 December 1995
- Current version note (as at 27 Mar 2026): The platform indicates the “current version” is the revoked order, with the 1995 Revised Edition showing the revocation.
What Is This Legislation About?
The Prohibition of Imports (Volcanic Rock Aggregates) Order was a Singapore subsidiary instrument made under the Control of Imports and Exports Act. In plain language, it dealt with whether certain goods—specifically volcanic rock aggregates—could be imported into Singapore. Orders of this type are typically used to impose import restrictions (including prohibitions) for regulatory, economic, safety, or environmental reasons, or to manage supply chains.
However, the key practical point for any practitioner is that this particular Order is revoked. The legislative history provided shows that the Order was revoked by S 530/95 with effect from 1 December 1995. As a result, it no longer operates as a live prohibition on imports. That said, understanding the Order remains relevant in at least two contexts: (1) historical compliance and documentation for transactions occurring before 1 December 1995, and (2) interpreting how Singapore’s import control framework evolved under the Control of Imports and Exports Act and related instruments.
Because the extract supplied contains only the legislative status and the revocation note (and not the operative prohibitory clauses themselves), this article focuses on what the Order was designed to do, how such orders are generally structured under Singapore import control law, and what the revocation means for legal risk and compliance going forward.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The operative prohibition (historically). Although the extract does not reproduce the substantive wording of the prohibition, the title and the legislative framework indicate that the Order would have specified that the importation of volcanic rock aggregates is prohibited (or otherwise restricted) unless some exception applied. In Singapore practice, such orders typically define the goods by reference to description, classification, or characteristics, and then impose a prohibition on importation.
2. Revocation and cessation of effect. The most important “provision” visible in the extract is the revocation. The Order is marked “(Revoked)” and the note states: “Revoked by S 530/95 wef 1/12/95.” This means that after 1 December 1995, the Order ceased to have legal effect. For practitioners, this is critical: you cannot rely on the revoked Order to justify a current refusal of importation, nor can you treat it as an active regulatory requirement for present-day imports.
3. Administrative and enforcement context under the parent Act. Even though the specific prohibitory terms are not shown in the extract, the Order’s legal basis is clear: it was made under Control of Imports and Exports Act (Cap. 56), s 3. Under that parent framework, the Government may regulate imports and exports by issuing subsidiary orders. In practice, enforcement would typically involve customs controls (e.g., preventing clearance of prohibited goods) and potential penalties for contraventions. When an order is revoked, the enforcement basis for that specific prohibition disappears, though other regulatory instruments may still apply.
4. Transitional and historical compliance. For transactions that occurred before 1 December 1995, the revoked Order may still be relevant to questions such as: whether importers had to comply with the prohibition at the time; whether permits or exemptions were required; and whether any breach occurred. For disputes, audits, or due diligence relating to older shipments, the revocation date helps determine the applicable legal regime.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the Order is structured as a short subsidiary instrument with at least one numbered provision. The legislative history shows an entry for “1 (Revoked)”, indicating that the operative clause (or the main clause) was itself revoked. The revised edition format suggests that the Order was consolidated into the Revised Edition 1995 and then marked as revoked.
In general, import prohibition orders under Singapore’s control framework are typically drafted with:
- A short title and commencement/relevant date provisions;
- Definitions of the goods covered (e.g., “volcanic rock aggregates”);
- Operative prohibition (e.g., “no person shall import…”); and
- Exceptions (if any), such as imports under licence, for specified purposes, or by specified persons.
While the extract does not show these elements, the presence of a single revoked provision suggests the Order’s core function was straightforward: to prohibit (or otherwise regulate) imports of the specified aggregate material.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
As a prohibition order made under Singapore’s import control regime, the Order would have applied to persons importing volcanic rock aggregates into Singapore. In practice, this includes importers, traders, and potentially any entity arranging shipment and customs clearance. Liability for import prohibitions typically attaches to the importer (and sometimes to persons who cause or facilitate the import), depending on how the parent Act and subsidiary order define contraventions.
Because the Order is revoked effective 1 December 1995, it does not apply to imports made after that date. However, it may still be relevant to historical matters—for example, if a shipment occurred before the revocation date, or if a legal dispute concerns conduct during the period when the prohibition was in force.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is revoked, it remains important for legal practitioners for three main reasons: (1) it forms part of the historical regulatory landscape for import controls; (2) it can affect due diligence and compliance assessments for older transactions; and (3) it illustrates how Singapore uses subsidiary orders under a broad statutory power to target specific goods.
1. Compliance risk management (historical). In commercial disputes, customs audits, or regulatory investigations that reach back to the 1990s, the existence of a prohibition order can be decisive. The revocation date—1 December 1995—helps establish the relevant legal period. If the importation occurred before that date, the importer may have been subject to the prohibition (and any exceptions/licensing requirements). If it occurred after that date, the revoked Order would not be the applicable legal basis.
2. Understanding the current regulatory framework. Practitioners should not assume that because this specific prohibition order is revoked, no restrictions exist on volcanic rock aggregates today. Other instruments may regulate similar goods through different mechanisms (e.g., licensing, standards, or controls under other sectoral legislation). The correct approach is to check the current import control instruments under the Control of Imports and Exports Act and any other relevant regulatory regimes.
3. Legal interpretation and evidential value. The legislative history entry—showing the revocation by S 530/95—is valuable evidence. It confirms that the Order’s legal effect ended on the specified date. In legal writing, this can be used to support arguments about the absence of a prohibition after revocation, and to distinguish between conduct governed by the revoked regime and conduct governed by subsequent regulations.
Related Legislation
- Control of Imports and Exports Act (Chapter 56), s 3 (authorising Act)
- Exports Act (listed in the provided metadata as related legislation)
- S 530/95 (the subsidiary instrument that revoked the Prohibition of Imports (Volcanic Rock Aggregates) Order with effect from 1 December 1995)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Prohibition of Imports (Volcanic Rock Aggregates) Order for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.