Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2022
- Act Code: RRA1985-S925-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Key Enabling Provision: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- SL Citation: SL 925/2022
- Date Made: 11 October 2022
- Date of Requisition / Operational Date: Part 3 of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 3 December 2022
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2022 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (“the Act”). In practical terms, it is a commencement order: it activates a specific part of the Act—namely Part 3—so that the legal framework for requisitioning resources can operate from a specified date.
Requisition regimes are typically designed for national emergencies or situations where the State must secure essential goods, services, or other resources quickly. While the extract provided does not reproduce the substantive requisition powers in Part 3 itself, the Order’s function is clear: it brings Part 3 into force and keeps it in force from the commencement date stated in the Order.
For lawyers, the key point is that the Order does not create a new requisition power from scratch; rather, it “turns on” an existing statutory mechanism contained in the Act. That distinction matters for interpretation, compliance planning, and advising clients on when and how requisition-related obligations may arise.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the short title of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2022.” This is standard legislative drafting, but it is important for accurate referencing in legal documents, correspondence, and any subsequent enforcement or compliance steps.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part 3) is the operative provision. It states that “the provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 3 December 2022.” This language indicates two legal effects: (1) Part 3 becomes effective on a particular date, and (2) it continues to operate thereafter (i.e., it is not limited to a short initial period within the text of this Order).
From a practitioner’s perspective, the phrase “come into and remain in operation” is significant. It suggests that once Part 3 is activated, the requisition regime is not merely temporary unless and until a later order amends, suspends, or revokes the relevant operation. Accordingly, clients should assume that requisition-related powers and duties under Part 3 may apply continuously from 3 December 2022, subject to any later legislative instruments or changes in the Act’s operation.
Enacting formula and authorisation confirm that the Minister for Defence makes the Order “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985.” This matters for validity and administrative law analysis. If a party challenges the activation of Part 3, the starting point is whether the Minister had the statutory authority to issue commencement orders under section 2 of the Act. The enacting formula is therefore not merely ceremonial; it anchors the Order’s legal competence.
Made on 11 October 2022 and the operational date of 3 December 2022 show a typical legislative timeline: the instrument is made earlier, then Part 3 is scheduled to commence later. Lawyers advising on risk and compliance should note that the legal effect begins on the commencement date, not on the date the Order was made—unless the Act provides otherwise.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely concise and contains only two substantive sections, plus the standard enacting formula and citation. Structurally, it functions as a “commencement/activation” instrument rather than a standalone regulatory code.
In terms of legislative architecture, the Order relies on the structure of the parent Act. The Act contains multiple Parts, and this Order specifically activates Part 3. The Order itself does not set out the requisition procedures, powers, or safeguards; those are located in the Act. Therefore, to understand the full legal consequences for affected parties, a practitioner must read:
- the Requisition of Resources Act 1985, especially Part 3; and
- this Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2022 to determine the commencement date and continuing operation.
Because the Order is labelled “(No. 4),” it also implies that there are multiple similar orders (Nos. 1–3 and possibly later ones) that have activated Part 3 at different times or in different circumstances. Practitioners should therefore check the legislation timeline and any related orders to confirm whether Part 3 was already in operation previously, whether this Order replaced an earlier one, or whether it re-activated Part 3 after a period of non-operation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is addressed to the legal system and the public at large by activating Part 3 of the Act. The actual “who” depends on the scope of Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. In general, requisition legislation affects persons and entities that control or provide resources that may be requisitioned—such as suppliers, operators, contractors, and other stakeholders in essential goods and services.
Even though the extract does not list categories of affected persons, the activation of Part 3 means that any person who falls within the definitions and operational triggers in Part 3 may become subject to requisition-related powers and obligations. Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as a signal that the substantive requisition regime is live and that compliance advice should be grounded in the text of Part 3 (including any procedural requirements, notice mechanisms, compensation provisions, and offences or enforcement provisions, if any).
Additionally, because the Minister for Defence is the enacting authority, the operational context is likely defence-related and may intersect with emergency planning, civil preparedness, and government procurement or mobilisation frameworks. However, the legal applicability remains determined by the Act’s operative provisions in Part 3, not by the Order’s short title alone.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it determines when a potentially far-reaching statutory regime becomes enforceable. Requisition powers can have significant commercial and operational consequences: they may require businesses to make resources available, adjust production or delivery arrangements, and comply with government directions that override ordinary contractual arrangements.
For lawyers, the commencement date is often the first critical fact in disputes. For example, if a supplier claims that it was not legally obliged to comply with a requisition direction because the relevant statutory powers were not yet in force, the commencement order becomes central evidence. Conversely, if a government direction was issued after 3 December 2022, the activation of Part 3 supports the argument that the requisition regime was operational.
Second, the Order’s “remain in operation” language affects ongoing compliance. Businesses should not treat requisition powers as a one-off event. Instead, they should assume that once Part 3 is activated, requisition-related legal duties and risks may persist until a later instrument changes the position. This is particularly relevant for in-house counsel and compliance teams managing supply chain continuity, contractual risk allocation, and contingency planning.
Third, the Order’s reliance on section 2 of the Act provides a basis for assessing the legality of the activation. If a party challenges the requisition framework, the question may arise whether the Minister properly exercised the statutory power to bring Part 3 into operation. The enacting formula and the reference to section 2 are therefore relevant to any validity analysis.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (including Part 3)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 1) Order (if applicable in the legislation timeline)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order (if applicable in the legislation timeline)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order (if applicable in the legislation timeline)
- Any subsequent “Requisition of Resources (No. …) Orders” that may amend or replace the operational status of Part 3
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.