Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023
- Act Code: RRA1985-S744-2023
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Key Enabling Provision: Powers under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Citation: SL 744/2023 (as shown in the legislation timeline)
- Date Made: 5 October 2023
- Date of Requisition / Operational Date: Part 3 of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 18 November 2023
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (“the Act”). In practical terms, the Order does not itself set out a detailed requisition scheme. Instead, it activates a specific part of the Act—namely, Part 3—for a defined period starting on a specified date.
Under the Act, the Government is empowered to requisition resources in situations where national needs require it. Such powers are typically framed to ensure that the State can secure essential goods, services, or other resources during emergencies or other circumstances that justify extraordinary measures. The Order is one of a series (“No. 7”) that brings the relevant provisions into force when needed.
Accordingly, the legal significance of the Order lies in its timing and activation effect: it determines when Part 3 of the Act becomes operational and therefore when the requisition powers and related procedural mechanisms in Part 3 can be exercised.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023.” This is standard legislative drafting, but it matters for practitioners because it identifies the exact subsidiary legislation instrument that must be cited when relying on its activation effect.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the substantive operative provision. It states that: “The provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 18 November 2023.” This language has two important legal consequences.
First, it specifies the commencement date for Part 3. Before 18 November 2023, Part 3 was not in operation (or at least not in the activated state contemplated by the Act and the Order). After that date, Part 3 becomes legally effective.
Second, it states that Part 3 is to “come into and remain in operation” on 18 November 2023. The phrase “remain in operation” indicates that the activation is not merely temporary for a short window; rather, it continues in force unless and until superseded, amended, or revoked by subsequent legal instruments or by the operation of the Act’s own termination mechanisms (if any). Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as establishing an ongoing legal basis for Part 3’s application from the stated date forward.
Enacting formula and enabling authority confirm the constitutional and statutory basis for the Order. The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985,” and it is made by the Minister for Defence. This matters for legal validity and for any challenge: it ties the instrument to a specific statutory delegation of power. If a party were to contest the Order, one likely line of argument would be whether the Minister acted within the scope of section 2 of the Act and whether the procedural and substantive conditions for activation were satisfied.
Notably, the extract provided contains only the citation and the activation date. In many requisition-related orders, the detailed requisition mechanics are contained in the parent Act (here, Part 3), while the subsidiary order performs the “turning on” function. Therefore, to advise clients, lawyers must read Part 3 of the Act alongside this Order to understand the actual requisition powers, obligations, and procedural safeguards that become available once Part 3 is in operation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 is a short subsidiary instrument with a conventional layout:
1. Citation (Section 1) — identifies the Order.
2. Date of requisition (Section 2) — the operative provision that activates Part 3 of the Act on a specified date.
Beyond these sections, the extract does not show additional parts or schedules. This is consistent with a legislative technique where the parent Act contains the substantive framework, and subsidiary orders periodically activate or extend the operation of particular parts. In this case, the “structure” is effectively two-layered:
(a) the Act (Requisition of Resources Act 1985), which sets out the requisition regime; and
(b) the Order, which determines when Part 3 of the Act is brought into force.
For practitioners, the key structural point is that the Order should not be read in isolation. The legal rights and duties that may arise in a requisition scenario will be found in Part 3 of the Act, not in the Order itself.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is directed at the legal operation of Part 3 of the Act. Therefore, its “applicability” is best understood by reference to who Part 3 governs once activated. In general, requisition regimes typically apply to persons and entities that control or provide the relevant resources—such as owners, operators, suppliers, or other stakeholders whose assets or services may be requisitioned.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the practical scope will depend on the definitions and operative provisions in Part 3 of the Act. Once Part 3 is in operation (from 18 November 2023), the State’s requisition powers under that part can be exercised against the persons and resources contemplated by the Act. Accordingly, the Order is relevant to:
- Potential requisition targets (e.g., resource holders and service providers);
- Government agencies and officials implementing requisition actions; and
- Advisers and counsel advising on compliance, risk, and any legal remedies connected to requisition decisions.
Because the Order is a “No. 7” order, it also suggests that the activation of Part 3 may occur multiple times across different periods. Parties should therefore verify the relevant version and timeline to determine whether Part 3 was active at the time of any particular requisition event.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 is brief, it is legally significant because it determines the effective date of a major statutory power set out in the Act. In requisition contexts, timing can be decisive: whether Part 3 was in operation at the time of a requisition notice, direction, or demand may affect the legality of the action, the availability of procedural protections, and the rights of affected parties.
For legal practitioners, the Order is therefore an essential “gateway” document. It signals that Part 3 of the Act is (at least from 18 November 2023) operational. When advising clients—whether government-linked entities, private resource holders, or counsel responding to requisition demands—lawyers must confirm:
- Whether Part 3 was in force on the relevant date;
- Whether the requisition action complied with the procedural requirements in Part 3;
- Whether any subsequent orders modified, extended, or replaced the activation; and
- Whether the requisition falls within the scope of the resources and persons covered by Part 3.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order also has operational consequences. Once Part 3 is active, affected parties may face obligations to comply with requisition directions, provide access to resources, or otherwise facilitate the State’s acquisition or control of resources. Non-compliance risks may arise under the Act’s enforcement provisions (again, located in Part 3 and related sections). Even where the Act provides for compensation or procedural review, the immediate practical impact on businesses and operational continuity can be substantial.
Finally, the Order’s reliance on section 2 of the Act underscores that the Minister for Defence has a delegated power to activate Part 3. This delegation is important for administrative law analysis: it frames the decision-making authority and can influence how courts or tribunals assess challenges to requisition-related actions.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (including Part 3)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 (SL 744/2023) — this Order
- Other “Requisition of Resources” Orders (e.g., earlier or later numbered orders that may activate or affect the operation of Part 3)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.