Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2019
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Act Code: RRA1985-S752-2019
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Authorising Power: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Enacting Formula: Minister for Defence makes the Order
- SL Citation: No. S 752
- Publication/Date of Order: Made on 14 October 2019
- Commencement/Operational Date: Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 16 November 2019
- Current Version Reference: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1 (Citation) and 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part III)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2019 is a Singapore subsidiary instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273). In practical terms, it is an activation order: it brings Part III of the principal Act into force for a specified period. The Order does not itself create a detailed regulatory scheme; rather, it turns on the operational provisions of the Act when national circumstances require the State to secure access to resources.
Requisition legislation is typically used in situations where the Government needs to ensure continuity of essential services, defence readiness, or other public interests that may be threatened during emergencies. The “requisition” concept generally refers to the State’s power to require the provision, use, or control of resources (which may include goods, services, or other assets) from persons or organisations, subject to the statutory framework.
In this specific Order, the key legal effect is straightforward: it specifies that the provisions of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act are to come into and remain in operation on 16 November 2019. The Order therefore functions as a formal legal trigger for the commencement of the Act’s Part III regime.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the short title of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2019.” While this may appear purely administrative, citation provisions are important for legal certainty. They allow practitioners to identify the exact subsidiary instrument that activated the relevant part of the principal Act, which matters for compliance, interpretation, and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the operative provision. It states that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 16 November 2019. Two elements are worth highlighting for legal practice:
- Commencement date: The Order fixes the date on which Part III becomes effective. This is crucial for determining when the State’s requisition powers (and any related duties on affected persons) begin to apply.
- Duration language (“come into and remain in operation”): The wording indicates that Part III is not merely temporarily activated for a short window; instead, it is brought into operation and continues to operate from that date, subject to whatever termination or further legislative action may exist under the principal Act or subsequent orders.
Because the extract does not reproduce the text of Part III itself, a practitioner should consult the Requisition of Resources Act to understand the substantive consequences of Part III being in force. However, the legal significance of Section 2 is that it authorises the Minister’s requisition framework to be applied from the specified date. In other words, the Order is the “switch” that activates the “engine” of Part III.
From a compliance perspective, the Order’s brevity does not reduce its importance. Requisition regimes often impose obligations on persons who hold or control relevant resources. Once Part III is in operation, affected parties may face requirements such as responding to requisition notices, making resources available, or complying with directions issued under the Act. Even where the subsidiary order is short, the commencement of Part III can have immediate operational and legal consequences for businesses, service providers, and asset holders.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short subsidiary order with a minimal number of sections. Based on the extract, it contains:
- Section 1: Citation (short title).
- Section 2: Date of requisition (commencement and continuing operation of Part III of the Act).
There are no schedules, definitions, or detailed procedural rules in the extract. The structure reflects the typical design of activation orders under a principal statute: the detailed legal mechanics are located in the Requisition of Resources Act, while the subsidiary order provides the timing and legal activation.
Accordingly, practitioners should read this Order together with the principal Act—especially Part III—and also check whether there are any related subsidiary orders (e.g., other “Requisition of Resources (No. …) Orders”) that may activate different parts of the Act or adjust the operational status over time.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order itself is addressed to the legal effect of bringing Part III into operation, the practical reach of the legislation is determined by the scope of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. Generally, such provisions apply to persons and organisations who possess, control, or are able to provide the relevant “resources” that may be requisitioned under the Act.
In practice, this may include businesses involved in supplying goods or services that could be considered essential for defence readiness or other public purposes, as well as entities that manage critical assets. The exact categories depend on how “resources” and the requisition powers are defined in the principal Act and Part III.
Because the Order does not specify categories, the safest legal approach is to treat it as a trigger that activates the Part III regime for all persons potentially within that regime’s statutory definitions. Lawyers advising clients should therefore review the principal Act’s Part III provisions and identify whether the client’s activities or assets fall within the requisitionable scope.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2019 is brief, it is legally significant because it activates a statutory power that can affect private rights and commercial operations. Requisition powers can require changes to how resources are allocated and used. That can create urgent compliance obligations and potential disputes about the scope of requisition, the adequacy of compensation (if provided for in the principal Act), and the legality of directions issued under the activated provisions.
From an enforcement and risk-management perspective, the key practical impact is timing. Once Part III is in operation from 16 November 2019, the State may rely on the activated legal framework to issue requisition-related directions. Businesses and service providers should therefore ensure that they have internal governance processes to respond to statutory notices, including escalation pathways to legal counsel and operational decision-makers.
For lawyers, the Order also matters for evidential and procedural reasons. In any later challenge—whether by way of judicial review, administrative dispute, or defence in enforcement proceedings—the commencement date and the legal basis for activation are central. Section 2 provides the formal legal anchor for when Part III became operational. That can be decisive in arguments about whether the State acted within time, whether the correct statutory regime was engaged, and whether affected parties were subject to the correct legal duties at the relevant time.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — the principal Act; this Order activates Part III of the Act.
- Requisition of Resources (Timeline / Authorising Act references) — practitioners should consult the legislation timeline to confirm the correct version and any subsequent amendments or related activation orders.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2019 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.