Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources Order 2016
- Act Code: RRA1985-S161-2016
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Authorising Power: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Enacting Date (Made): 6 April 2016
- Commencement / Date of Requisition: 16 April 2016 (Part III of the Act)
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 161/2016
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is a Singapore subsidiary legislative instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273). In practical terms, it does not create a new substantive regime by itself. Instead, it activates (or “brings into operation”) a specific part of the parent Act—namely Part III—on a specified date.
Under the Requisition of Resources Act, the Government is empowered to requisition (that is, take or control) certain resources in situations where national security or public needs require it. However, the Act’s provisions are not necessarily effective immediately upon enactment. The Order is the mechanism that sets the commencement date for the relevant part of the Act.
Accordingly, the Order’s scope is narrow and administrative in character: it identifies the instrument, and it specifies that the provisions of Part III of the Act “come into and remain in operation” on 16 April 2016. For practitioners, the key legal work is therefore to connect the Order to the content of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act, because the Order itself is short but has significant operational consequences.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “This Order is the Requisition of Resources Order 2016.” This is standard drafting, but it matters for legal referencing, publication, and ensuring that the correct subsidiary legislation is cited in correspondence, legal submissions, and compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part III) is the substantive operative provision in the extract. It states that “The provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 16 April 2016.” Two features are important for legal interpretation:
- Commencement: Part III becomes effective on a specific date (16 April 2016). This means that from that date, the powers, procedures, and obligations contained in Part III are legally available and enforceable.
- Continuing operation: the phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that Part III is not a temporary activation for a short period; rather, it remains operative unless later amended or revoked by subsequent legislation or orders (depending on how the parent Act is structured).
Although the extract does not reproduce Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act, a lawyer will treat Section 2 as the “switch” that turns on the operative legal framework. In practice, Part III typically governs the requisition process—for example, the authority to requisition resources, the manner in which requisition notices are issued, the treatment of requisitioned property or services, and any related safeguards such as compensation or procedural requirements. The Order’s legal effect is to make those Part III mechanisms available to the relevant decision-makers from the commencement date.
Enacting formula and making authority also provide interpretive context. The Order states that it is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act” by the Minister for Defence. It is signed by NG CHEE KHERN, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence, Singapore. For practitioners, this confirms the statutory chain of authority and supports validity arguments if the Order is later relied upon in administrative or judicial proceedings.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is structured as a short subsidiary instrument with only the following elements in the extract:
- Enacting Formula: identifies the enabling power and the maker (Minister for Defence) under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act.
- Section 1 (Citation): provides the short title for referencing.
- Section 2 (Date of requisition): specifies the commencement date for Part III of the Act and confirms it remains in operation.
There are no schedules, definitions, or detailed procedural rules in the extract because the Order’s function is commencement. The detailed substantive rules are located in the parent Act—particularly Part III. Therefore, the “structure” that matters for legal work is the relationship between this Order and the parent Act’s Part III provisions.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because the Order itself is a commencement order, it applies indirectly to those who would be affected by the operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. In general, that includes persons, organisations, and entities that may hold or control “resources” within the meaning of the Act—such as property, services, or other assets that could be requisitioned for defence or national needs.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the relevant question is not “who is named in the Order,” but rather “who is within the ambit of Part III once it is in force.” The Order activates Part III for the entire period it “remains in operation.” As a result, compliance planning, risk assessment, and contractual arrangements should assume that requisition powers may be exercised in accordance with Part III’s requirements from 16 April 2016 onward.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is brief, it is legally significant because it determines when a potentially far-reaching statutory regime becomes operative. Requisition powers can affect businesses, critical service providers, and holders of relevant assets. The commencement date therefore has practical consequences for operational readiness, governance, and legal compliance.
For lawyers advising clients, the Order is important for at least three reasons:
- It confirms legal availability of Part III powers from a specific date. If a requisition notice, direction, or related administrative action is taken under Part III, the commencement date helps establish whether the legal basis existed at the relevant time.
- It supports validity and procedural arguments. In disputes, parties may challenge whether the statutory provisions were in force. The Order provides documentary evidence that Part III was brought into operation on 16 April 2016.
- It informs contract and risk management. Many commercial contracts allocate risks relating to government action, force majeure, or regulatory compulsion. Knowing that Part III is operative can affect how clients structure clauses on requisition, compensation, continuity of supply, and notice obligations.
Finally, the Order illustrates a common legislative technique in Singapore: rather than activating all provisions immediately, Parliament authorises the Minister to bring specific parts into force by subsidiary legislation. This allows the Government to calibrate legal powers to circumstances, while maintaining a clear statutory framework. Practitioners should therefore read the Order together with the parent Act and any subsequent amendments or further commencement orders.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Requisition of Resources Act – Part III (the provisions brought into operation by this Order)
- Legislation Timeline / Amendments (to confirm the current version and any later changes affecting Part III or the enabling power)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources Order 2016 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.