Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2024
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Act Code: RRA1985-S932-2024
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Enacting Formula (Power Used): Powers under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- SL Number: SL 932/2024
- Date Made: 23 October 2024
- Commencement / Date of Requisition: Provisions of Part 3 of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 4 December 2024
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Parts: Not specified in the extract (order itself contains sections 1–2)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Citation (s. 1); Date of requisition (s. 2)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2024 is a Singapore subsidiary instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (“RRA”). In plain terms, it is an administrative/legal “switch” that activates the operation of Part 3 of the Act for a defined period starting on a specific date.
Requisition legislation is typically designed for situations where the State needs to secure access to resources—such as goods, services, or other capabilities—quickly and with legal certainty. The core idea is that, when circumstances require it, the Government can compel the provision of resources or otherwise regulate their use. This Order does not itself set out the requisition powers; instead, it brings Part 3 of the Act into force so that those powers become available.
Practically, this Order matters because it determines when the more intrusive requisition regime becomes legally operative. For lawyers advising businesses, contractors, logistics providers, utilities, and other stakeholders, the key question is not only what the Act allows in general, but when those powers are triggered by ministerial orders like this one.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2024.” This is standard legislative drafting, but it is important for legal referencing in compliance documentation, correspondence, and regulatory submissions.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the substantive provision in the extract. It states that: “The provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 4 December 2024.” This means that Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 becomes legally effective on 4 December 2024.
The phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that Part 3 is not merely activated for a single day or for a short, self-contained period. Instead, it is intended to be in force from the specified commencement date, continuing thereafter until the relevant legal framework provides otherwise (for example, by later orders, amendments, or expiry mechanisms within the parent Act). While the extract does not specify an end date, the legal effect is that affected parties should treat the requisition regime as operative from 4 December 2024.
Enacting formula and ministerial authority. The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985,” and it is signed by a senior defence official (Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence). For practitioners, this matters because it confirms the legal basis for activation: the Minister for Defence (or the authorised representative acting under the statutory scheme) has the delegated power to determine the timing of Part 3’s operation.
Legislative timeline and versioning. The document indicates a version status “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” and the timeline shows the Order dated 03 Dec 2024 with the SL number SL 932/2024. The extract also states the Order was “Made on 23 October 2024.” This is a common pattern in Singapore legislation: the instrument may be made (signed) on one date, while publication/notification and the legislative timeline entry may reflect another date. For legal work, it is crucial to rely on the textual commencement trigger—here, the date Part 3 comes into operation—rather than assuming that the “made” date equals the effective date.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structurally brief. It contains:
(1) Section 1: the citation provision, identifying the instrument.
(2) Section 2: the operative provision that specifies the date on which Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 comes into force and remains in operation.
Although the Order itself is short, it is best understood as a triggering instrument within a larger legislative framework. The detailed requisition mechanisms—such as who may requisition, what can be requisitioned, procedural steps, compensation, and enforcement—are contained in the parent Act, particularly Part 3. The Order’s role is to activate that Part.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
While the extract does not list specific categories of persons, requisition legislation generally applies to persons who control or provide resources that may be requisitioned under the Act once Part 3 is in operation. In practice, this can include businesses and individuals involved in manufacturing, supply, transport, warehousing, utilities, communications, and other sectors that may be relevant to national defence or emergency preparedness.
Accordingly, the Order’s practical reach extends to any stakeholder that could be subject to requisition directions once Part 3 is active from 4 December 2024. Lawyers advising regulated industries should treat the activation date as a compliance and risk-management milestone: contracts, operational plans, and internal governance should be reviewed for how requisition orders might affect delivery obligations, staffing, inventory allocation, and liability exposure.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it determines the legal timing of a potentially far-reaching statutory regime. Even though the instrument itself contains only two sections, it has significant downstream consequences: once Part 3 of the Act is in operation, the State’s requisition powers become available, and affected parties must be prepared to respond to lawful requisition directions.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the activation date is critical. If a requisition direction is issued after 4 December 2024, the legal basis for that direction would typically rely on Part 3 being in force. Conversely, if a direction were issued before that date, questions could arise about whether the requisition powers were properly activated at the relevant time. For practitioners, this is the kind of issue that can affect validity challenges, administrative review, and disputes over compensation or obligations.
For businesses, the Order underscores the need for readiness planning. Even where requisition is unlikely, the existence of a legal mechanism that can be activated by ministerial order means that companies should consider:
- how to identify and segregate resources that might be requisitioned;
- how to respond to official notices and directions promptly;
- how to document costs and impacts for any compensation or reimbursement processes under the Act;
- how requisition obligations interact with existing contractual commitments to customers and counterparties.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader governance feature of Singapore’s requisition framework: rather than requiring Parliament to pass a new Act each time circumstances change, the statutory scheme allows the executive to activate specific Parts through subsidiary orders. This provides flexibility while keeping the requisition powers anchored in an existing statute.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (authorising Act; particularly Part 3)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2024 (this Order; SL 932/2024)
- Legislation timeline / Requisition of Resources orders (for context on other “No.” orders and activation dates)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2024 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.