Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2017
- Act Code: RRA1985-S326-2017
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273)
- Authorising Provision: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Enacting Date / Made Date: 19 June 2017
- SL Citation: SL 326/2017
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Commencement / Operational Date: 24 June 2017 (for Part III of the Act)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation); Section 2 (Date of requisition / operation of Part III)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2017 is a Singapore subsidiary instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In practical terms, it is not a standalone “requisition regime” with detailed rules. Instead, it is a procedural and timing order that activates a specific part of the parent Act—namely, Part III—for a defined period.
Requisition legislation is typically designed for national preparedness. It provides a legal mechanism for the Government to secure access to resources (such as services, materials, or other capabilities) when required for defence or other urgent public purposes. The key legal significance of this Order is that it determines when the operative provisions of Part III of the Act come into force and remain in force.
From the extract provided, the Order contains only two substantive provisions: (1) the short title/citation, and (2) the “date of requisition” that brings Part III into operation on a particular date. This makes the instrument relatively compact, but legally important because it triggers the operation of the parent Act’s requisition powers and obligations.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) confirms the formal name of the instrument: Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2017. While this may appear administrative, citation provisions are essential for legal certainty—practitioners rely on them to identify the correct instrument when advising on compliance, enforcement, or historical versions.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the core operative clause. It provides that: “The provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 24 June 2017.” In other words, Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act is not permanently active at all times; it is activated by orders. This is a common legislative technique in emergency or preparedness statutes: the enabling framework exists in the Act, but specific operational parts are brought into force when needed.
Although the extract does not reproduce the text of Part III itself, the legal effect of Section 2 is clear. Once Part III is in operation, the requisition-related powers, procedures, and duties contained in Part III become legally enforceable. This may include (depending on the content of Part III) the Government’s authority to issue requisition directions, the scope of resources that may be requisitioned, the obligations of persons or entities to comply, and any related administrative or procedural safeguards.
Made date and responsible authority. The Order is “made on 19 June 2017” by the Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence. The enacting formula states that the Minister for Defence makes the Order in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the parent Act. This matters for practitioners because it confirms the proper statutory authority and the correct decision-maker for the activation of Part III. If a requisition action later relies on Part III being in force, the validity of the activation order is often a threshold issue.
Temporal effect. The wording “come into and remain in operation on 24 June 2017” indicates that Part III is activated starting on that date. The extract does not specify an end date. Practically, this means Part III remains operative until it is later amended, revoked, or replaced by another order (or until the parent Act provides for automatic cessation). For legal advice, practitioners should therefore check the legislation timeline and any subsequent orders affecting Part III’s operation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a minimal, two-section format typical of activation or commencement instruments. It does not contain “Parts” or “chapters” of its own. Instead, it operates by reference to the parent Act.
Section 1 provides the citation. Section 2 is the only substantive provision and functions as the “date of requisition” clause. The Order’s structure is therefore best understood as a trigger mechanism: it activates Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act on a specified date.
For practitioners, the structure implies that the real substantive legal obligations and powers will be found in the parent Act’s Part III. The Order’s role is to determine the operational status of that Part. Accordingly, a lawyer advising on compliance should read the Order together with Part III and any related definitions and procedural provisions in the Act.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is addressed to the legal effect of Part III of the Act, rather than to a particular class of persons within the Order text. Therefore, the scope of who is affected depends on the scope of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act.
In general terms, requisition legislation affects persons and entities that control or provide “resources” within the meaning of the Act—such as suppliers, service providers, and other stakeholders whose assets or capabilities may be required for defence or other urgent national needs. The activation of Part III means that any requisition powers and compliance duties contained in that Part become enforceable against those within its defined scope.
Practitioners should confirm, by reviewing Part III, the categories of “resources” and the persons who may be subject to requisition directions. They should also check whether Part III includes procedural requirements (for example, notice, forms of requisition, or administrative review) that would affect how obligations are imposed and challenged.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is brief, it is legally significant because it determines whether the Government’s requisition powers under Part III are active. In a requisition context, timing can be decisive: a requisition direction issued when Part III is not in operation may be challengeable, whereas one issued after activation is more likely to be enforceable.
For practitioners, the Order is therefore a foundational instrument for any matter involving requisition actions in the relevant period. When advising clients—whether government agencies, regulated suppliers, or affected businesses—lawyers typically need to establish (i) whether the relevant Part of the Act was in force, (ii) the date it became operative, and (iii) whether any later orders altered that status.
Additionally, the Order illustrates a broader administrative law and statutory interpretation point: subsidiary instruments can be used to activate or suspend operational provisions within a parent statute. This means that legal compliance and enforcement risk may change over time without amendments to the parent Act itself. Practitioners should therefore adopt a version-control approach: always check the legislation timeline and the “current version” status, as well as any subsequent orders that may have extended, replaced, or terminated the activation of Part III.
Finally, the Order’s authorisation and formalities—made by the Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) under the Minister’s powers—are relevant for validity. If a requisition dispute arises, the activation order may be scrutinised alongside the requisition direction itself. Ensuring that the correct authority made the order and that it was properly brought into operation can be central to legal outcomes.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273)
- Resources Act (as referenced in the provided metadata)
- Legislation Timeline / Authorising Act (for version and operational status checks)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2017 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.