Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023
- Act Code: RRA1985-S744-2023
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting authority: Minister for Defence
- Legal basis: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Citation: “Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023”
- SL number: SL 744/2023
- Date of making: 5 October 2023
- Date of requisition / commencement of Part 3: 18 November 2023
- Operational period stated: Part 3 provisions “come into and remain in operation” from 18 November 2023 (duration not specified in the extract)
- 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, it is an administrative/legal trigger that activates specific powers in the parent Act—namely, the provisions in Part 3 of the Act—so that the Government can requisition (i.e., take or control) certain resources when required for national defence or related public purposes.
Orders of this kind are typically used to “turn on” particular legal mechanisms at a defined time. Rather than creating a wholly new regime, the Order relies on the Act’s existing framework and specifies when the relevant Part of the Act becomes effective. This approach allows the legal system to remain ready and consistent, while enabling the Government to respond to changing circumstances by activating the appropriate statutory powers when necessary.
Based on the extract provided, the Order contains two operative provisions: (1) the formal citation of the Order, and (2) the date on which the provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation. The Order therefore functions as a time-based activation instrument rather than a detailed requisition schedule.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the short title: the instrument is known as the Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023. While this appears purely formal, citation provisions are important for legal certainty, especially when multiple requisition orders exist (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, etc.). Practitioners often need to identify the correct order when advising on compliance, challenges, or the scope of activated powers.
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 18 November 2023.” This language is critical: it indicates that Part 3 is not merely to commence on that date; it is also to remain in operation thereafter. The extract does not specify an end date, so the duration would depend on the Act’s structure (for example, whether Part 3 continues until revoked by a subsequent order, or until the statutory purpose is achieved, or until a specified expiry mechanism applies).
The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985.” This matters for legal interpretation. It signals that the Minister for Defence is acting within a delegated statutory authority that contemplates periodic or situational activation of Part 3. For lawyers, the key question becomes: what Part 3 empowers and what procedural safeguards the Act provides when those powers are exercised.
Although the extract does not reproduce the content of Part 3, the practitioner’s task is to read the Act alongside the Order. The Order’s legal effect is to bring Part 3 into force. Therefore, any requisition actions taken after 18 November 2023 would be grounded in the activated Part 3 powers. In advice and litigation, counsel would typically focus on: (a) whether the requisition action occurred after the activation date; (b) whether the requisitioned “resources” fall within the categories covered by Part 3; (c) whether the statutory process for requisition (not shown in the extract) was followed; and (d) whether any compensation, notice, or review mechanisms in the Act were complied with.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The structure of the instrument is straightforward. It is a short subsidiary legislation order with an enacting formula and two sections. The Order does not contain multiple Parts or detailed schedules in the extract; instead, it operates as a gateway to the parent Act.
In terms of legal architecture, the Order should be understood as part of a two-layer system:
(1) The Requisition of Resources Act 1985 provides the substantive legal framework, including the powers, definitions, procedural requirements, and any safeguards (such as notice, documentation, or compensation).
(2) The Requisition of Resources (No. 7) Order 2023 activates Part 3 of that framework on a specified date.
Accordingly, practitioners should treat the Order as a time-and-authorisation instrument rather than a self-contained requisition code. The “real” operational content is in Part 3 of the Act, which becomes effective on 18 November 2023.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because the extract does not list specific persons or entities, applicability must be inferred from the parent Act’s requisition scheme. Generally, requisition legislation in this context applies to persons or entities who control or possess resources that may be required for defence or public purposes—such as suppliers, manufacturers, service providers, and owners/occupiers of relevant assets.
The Order itself is addressed to the legal effect of bringing Part 3 into operation. Therefore, its practical reach extends to any party that may be subject to requisition actions once Part 3 is active. In advising clients, lawyers should identify whether the client holds, supplies, or manages resources that fall within the Act’s definitions and whether any requisition notices or directions issued after 18 November 2023 would engage the client’s obligations.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it determines when the Government can exercise specific requisition powers under the Act. Even where the Order is brief, its legal consequences can be significant: requisition powers can affect contractual arrangements, operational continuity, property rights, and supply chain obligations. For businesses, the activation of Part 3 can mean that resources they control may be subject to lawful government direction.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the key practical impact is timing. If Part 3 is “to come into and remain in operation on 18 November 2023,” then any requisition-related steps taken after that date would likely rely on the authority now in force. Lawyers advising on compliance should therefore verify: (i) the date of any requisition notice or direction; (ii) whether the notice references the correct statutory basis; and (iii) whether the requisition action aligns with the scope of Part 3.
From a legal risk perspective, the Order also matters for dispute resolution. If a client challenges a requisition action, the challenge will often turn on statutory prerequisites and procedural compliance—matters that are typically contained in the Act’s Part 3 provisions. The Order’s activation date becomes a foundational fact in any judicial review or related proceedings. Additionally, if the Act provides compensation or review mechanisms, practitioners must consider how those mechanisms operate once Part 3 is active.
Finally, the existence of multiple “No.” orders (e.g., “No. 7”) suggests a continuing or recurring use of the activation mechanism. This can be relevant for counsel tracking regulatory posture over time, advising on preparedness, and assessing whether the Government’s requisition powers are being periodically renewed or expanded through successive orders.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (the parent Act; particularly Part 3, which is activated by this Order)
- Resources Act 1985 (as referenced in the provided metadata; practitioners should confirm the correct parent statute name and citation in the official legislation database)
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.