Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2018
- Act Code: RRA1985-S140-2018
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting formula (power used): Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Legislation number / citation: SL 140/2018
- Order date (made): 11 January 2018
- Commencement / operational date (as specified): 24 March 2018
- Operational duration: “come into and remain in operation on 24 March 2018” (i.e., Part III is brought into effect from that date)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2018 is a short piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In plain language, it is an administrative legal instrument that activates a specific part of the parent Act—namely Part III—for a defined time period starting on a specified date.
Although the extract contains only two operative provisions, the legal effect is significant. Under the Requisition of Resources Act, the Government is empowered to requisition (that is, take or require the provision of) resources when needed for national purposes, typically in circumstances involving defence, security, or other urgent national requirements. This Order does not itself list particular resources or targets; instead, it determines when the requisition powers in Part III become operative.
Accordingly, the Order functions as a “switch” that turns on the legal machinery in Part III of the Act. For practitioners, the key is to read this Order together with the parent Act—because the substantive requisition regime, procedural safeguards, and the scope of authority are found in the Act, while the Order governs timing and activation.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “This Order is the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2018.” This is standard legislative drafting, but it matters for legal referencing, especially when multiple “No.” orders exist (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”). In practice, lawyers should confirm which order is currently in force and whether later orders supersede earlier activations.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / activation of Part III) is the core operative provision. It states that: “The provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 24 March 2018.” This wording indicates that Part III is not merely “commenced” in the abstract; it is brought into effect from 24 March 2018 and remains operative (at least from that date). The extract does not specify an end date, so the duration is governed by the parent Act’s framework and any subsequent amending or revoking orders.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the most important interpretive step is to locate Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273) and understand what it authorises. Typically, requisition legislation contains provisions dealing with: (i) the authority to requisition resources; (ii) the persons or bodies that may be required to comply; (iii) the form and effect of requisition notices; (iv) compensation or reimbursement mechanisms; and (v) enforcement and offences for non-compliance. This Order’s legal significance lies in making those Part III powers available for use from the specified date.
Because this Order is made under section 2 of the Act, it is also important to examine that enabling provision. Section 2 likely sets out the Minister’s power to bring Part III into operation by order, possibly subject to conditions (for example, the existence of circumstances warranting requisition). Even if the extract does not reproduce those conditions, counsel should verify whether the Act requires any factual basis, consultation, or publication requirements before Part III can be activated.
Finally, the enacting formula indicates that the Minister for Defence makes the Order. This matters for administrative law and constitutional allocation of powers: it confirms the responsible authority and can be relevant if a party later challenges the validity of requisition actions taken under Part III (for example, by arguing that the wrong authority acted, or that the activation was not properly made).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely concise and is structured as a two-section instrument:
(1) Section 1: citation provision (how the Order is named).
(2) Section 2: the operative provision specifying the date of requisition and, crucially, the activation of Part III of the parent Act.
There are no schedules, no lists of resources, and no detailed procedural requirements in the extract. The structure reflects its function as a commencement/activation order rather than a standalone requisition code. Therefore, the “real” legal content for requisitioning—who can be required, what can be requisitioned, how notices are served, and what remedies exist—will be found in the Requisition of Resources Act, particularly Part III.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the Order applies to the extent that it brings Part III of the Act into operation. The Order itself does not name categories of persons. However, once Part III is operative, the requisition powers under that Part will typically apply to persons and entities that control or supply relevant resources—for example, owners, occupiers, suppliers, or operators of goods, services, or facilities that may be needed for national purposes.
In practical legal work, the relevant “who” question is therefore answered by reading Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. The Order’s role is to determine when those obligations and authorities are available. Lawyers advising businesses should treat this Order as a trigger document: if Part III is in operation, compliance obligations and potential liabilities under Part III may arise.
Additionally, the Order is made by the Minister for Defence, which indicates that the administrative machinery for requisition will be exercised within the defence-related governmental framework. Parties affected by requisition actions should therefore expect that requisition notices and enforcement steps will be issued by (or on behalf of) the competent authorities designated under the Act.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2018 is brief, it is legally important because it activates a substantive regime in the parent Act. Requisition powers are inherently intrusive: they can compel compliance, affect property and operational control, and require the provision of resources. As a result, the timing of activation is not a technicality—it determines whether the Government can lawfully rely on Part III powers at a given time.
For practitioners, the Order is therefore central to questions such as:
- Lawfulness of requisition actions: Were the requisition powers relied upon available at the time the notice was issued or the action taken?
- Temporal scope: Did Part III come into force on 24 March 2018 and remain in force thereafter, or was it later modified by subsequent orders?
- Validity challenges: If a party disputes compliance or enforcement, one line of argument may involve whether Part III was properly activated under the enabling provision.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, businesses and resource providers should understand that once Part III is operative, they may be subject to requisition directions and related obligations. Even if the Order does not itself impose duties, it is a necessary legal precondition for the duties and consequences contained in Part III. Counsel should therefore advise clients to monitor the status of requisition-related orders and to maintain readiness to respond to requisition notices.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader legislative technique common in emergency and defence-related frameworks: rather than embedding all operational triggers into the main Act, the Act authorises the Minister to activate specific parts by order. This allows the Government to respond flexibly to changing circumstances while keeping the statutory requisition powers structured and reviewable through formal instruments.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — particularly Part III and the enabling provision in section 2
- Legislation Timeline / Requisition of Resources orders (including other “No.” orders, if applicable) — to confirm which activation is current and whether later orders have modified or replaced earlier ones
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.