Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018
- Act Code: RRA1985-S788-2018
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273)
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Key Instrument Number: SL 788/2018 (as reflected in the legislation timeline)
- Made Date: 17 October 2018
- Commencement / Operational Date: 6 December 2018 (for Part III of the Act)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Primary Operative Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018 is a short but legally significant instrument made under Singapore’s Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In plain terms, it is an activation order: it brings a specific part of the parent Act into force for a defined period. The Order does not itself create a new regulatory scheme; rather, it triggers the operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act starting on a specified date.
Requisition of resources legislation is typically associated with national security and emergency preparedness. The underlying policy rationale is that, during certain circumstances (for example, when the State needs to secure essential goods, services, or capabilities), the Government must be able to compel the availability of resources. This may involve requisitioning property or directing the use of resources to ensure continuity of critical functions.
Accordingly, the practical effect of the Order is to notify affected persons and agencies that the coercive powers and procedural mechanisms contained in Part III of the Act are now operative. Lawyers advising clients—whether suppliers, operators, or holders of relevant resources—must therefore treat the Order as a formal legal “switch” that activates the relevant statutory powers.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018.” While this may appear purely administrative, citation provisions are important for legal certainty. They allow practitioners to correctly identify the instrument when advising on compliance, when checking the applicable version, and when referencing the order in correspondence, affidavits, or submissions.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part III) is the core operative clause. It states that “the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 6 December 2018.” This language performs two functions:
- Commencement: Part III begins to operate on 6 December 2018.
- Continuing operation: Part III is to “come into and remain in operation” from that date, indicating that the activation is not merely temporary for a single day. The extract does not specify an expiry date; therefore, the duration is governed by the structure of the parent Act and any subsequent orders or revocations.
Because the extract does not reproduce the text of Part III itself, a practitioner must consult the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273) to understand what Part III authorises. However, the legal significance of Section 2 is clear: it activates the specific statutory regime contained in Part III. In practice, once Part III is in operation, the Government may be empowered to take steps contemplated by that Part—typically involving requisitioning or directing the use of resources, and setting out procedural safeguards, notice requirements, and consequences.
Enacting formula and authorisation further confirm the legal basis. The Minister for Defence makes the Order “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act.” This is a critical point for legal analysis. It means the Order is not discretionary in the abstract; it is made pursuant to a specific enabling provision in the Act. For practitioners, this supports arguments about validity and scope: the Order must remain within the authority granted by the parent Act, and any challenge would likely focus on whether the statutory preconditions for activation were satisfied (if the Act makes such conditions relevant).
Finally, the “Made on 17 October 2018” date indicates that the Order was signed earlier than the commencement date. This is common in subsidiary legislation: it allows time for publication and for affected parties to prepare for the activation of statutory powers.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018 is extremely concise. Based on the extract, it consists of:
- Section 1: Citation (title of the Order).
- Section 2: Date of requisition / commencement of Part III of the Act.
There are no additional Parts or detailed operational provisions in the Order itself. Instead, the Order functions as a triggering instrument for the parent Act. The substantive legal framework—definitions, requisition powers, procedural steps, and any compensation or enforcement mechanisms—resides in the Requisition of Resources Act, particularly Part III.
From a practitioner’s perspective, this structure means that legal work will often involve two layers of analysis:
- Layer 1: Confirm the validity and scope of the activation order (here, whether Part III is indeed “in operation” from 6 December 2018).
- Layer 2: Apply the provisions of Part III to the facts—e.g., whether a particular resource falls within the relevant categories, who can exercise the powers, what notices must be given, and what rights or remedies exist for affected persons.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is directed at the operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. Therefore, its practical “applicability” is best understood by reference to the categories of persons and resources covered by Part III. Typically, such regimes apply to persons who possess, control, or are able to provide relevant resources—which may include property owners, operators of facilities, suppliers of goods, or providers of services that the State may need during contingencies.
In terms of legal advising, you should assume that the Order may affect a broad range of stakeholders depending on how Part III defines “resources” and the mechanisms for requisition. Even though the Order is numbered “(No. 7),” indicating it is one of multiple similar activation orders, the relevant question for compliance is not the numbering but whether Part III is currently in operation and whether the particular client’s assets or activities fall within the scope of Part III.
Because the status is shown as “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” practitioners should also check the legislation timeline and any subsequent orders to confirm whether Part III remains in operation continuously since 6 December 2018 or whether later instruments modified or ended the activation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018 is brief, it is important because it activates a statutory regime that can have immediate operational consequences for private parties. Once Part III is in force, the Government’s powers under that Part may require affected persons to comply with requisition-related directions. This can affect contractual arrangements, supply chain planning, asset management, and risk allocation.
For lawyers, the key significance lies in the activation mechanism. Many disputes in this area turn on timing and legal authority: whether the relevant statutory powers were in operation at the time of a requisition notice, whether the correct part of the Act was activated, and whether the exercise of power complied with the procedural requirements in Part III. Section 2 of the Order provides a clear commencement date—6 December 2018—which can be decisive in determining legality and remedies.
In addition, the Order’s authorisation by the Minister for Defence underscores that the activation is part of a structured legal framework rather than ad hoc action. Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as a formal legal instrument that may be relied upon by the State in enforcement contexts, and may also be relied upon by affected parties to verify the basis of any requisition-related measures.
Finally, because the Order is a subsidiary legislation instrument, it is subject to publication and version control. The “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” status means that practitioners should ensure they are consulting the correct version and cross-referencing the parent Act’s Part III. This is particularly relevant when advising on historical events (e.g., whether a requisition was lawful at a particular time) or when preparing compliance documentation.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273) — particularly Part III (activated by this Order)
- Requisition of Resources (Timeline / related orders) — for checking which activation orders apply and whether Part III remains in operation
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.