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)
- Enacting Formula / Power Source: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Legislative Instrument Number: S 161
- SL Citation: SL 161/2016
- Date Made: 6 April 2016
- Commencement (as set out in the Order): Provisions of Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 16 April 2016
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is a short but legally significant instrument. In substance, it “switches on” a particular part of the Requisition of Resources Act—namely Part III—for a defined period starting on a specific date. Rather than creating a new regulatory regime from scratch, the Order activates an existing statutory framework that empowers the State to requisition resources when circumstances require it.
In plain language, the Order tells you that the legal powers and procedures contained in Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act are intended to be operational from 16 April 2016. The phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that once Part III is activated, it continues to operate (subject to the Act’s own internal limits and any later amendments or revocation mechanisms that may exist in the parent Act).
For practitioners, the key point is that this Order is not merely administrative. It is the legal trigger that brings into effect the operative provisions of the Act. That means that rights, obligations, and compliance duties that depend on Part III being in force will become relevant from the commencement date stated in the Order.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: the Requisition of Resources Order 2016. While this is standard drafting, it matters for legal accuracy when citing the instrument in submissions, correspondence, or court pleadings.
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 April 2016.” This is the legal mechanism by which the Minister for Defence activates Part III. In effect, Part III becomes enforceable and applicable from that date.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the text of Part III itself, the practitioner should understand the Order’s function as a commencement/activation clause. Part III likely contains the substantive requisition powers—such as the authority to require persons or entities to provide specified resources, the process for issuing requisition directions, and the legal consequences of non-compliance. The Order therefore operates as the “gateway” to those powers.
Finally, the enacting formula and making clause confirm the institutional context. The Order is made by the Minister for Defence (through the Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) signing the instrument), in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. This is important for administrative law and validity analysis: it identifies the correct decision-maker and the statutory source of authority.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is structured as a very compact subsidiary instrument with only two provisions in the extract: section 1 (Citation) and section 2 (Date of requisition). The Order does not contain schedules, definitions, or detailed operational procedures within its own text.
Instead, the Order relies on the parent Act—the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)—for the substantive legal framework. The Order’s structure is therefore best understood as a “switch” that activates the relevant part of the Act. In practice, legal work will require reading:
- the Requisition of Resources Act, especially Part III; and
- the Requisition of Resources Order 2016, to confirm the commencement date and the fact that Part III is in force from 16 April 2016.
Because the Order is short, its legal effect is concentrated in the commencement language of section 2. That concentration is typical of subsidiary legislation used to bring statutory powers into operation at particular times.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is addressed to the legal effect of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. Therefore, its practical applicability depends on who Part III targets. In general terms, requisition regimes in Singapore typically relate to persons and entities that control or can provide specified “resources” (which may include goods, services, facilities, or other operational inputs). The Order does not list categories in the extract, so the practitioner must consult Part III for the precise scope.
What can be stated confidently from the Order is that once Part III is in operation, the legal consequences attached to that part of the Act become relevant. That means that regulated parties—whoever they are under Part III—should assume that the State’s requisition powers and any related duties (such as compliance with requisition directions, reporting obligations, or restrictions on dealing with requisitioned resources) are enforceable from 16 April 2016.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources Order 2016 is brief, it is legally important because it determines when a potentially far-reaching statutory regime becomes active. In requisition contexts, timing can be decisive: rights to compensation, obligations to comply, and the legality of actions taken by both the State and affected parties may turn on whether Part III was in force at the relevant time.
For practitioners advising businesses, logistics providers, critical infrastructure operators, or any entity that may fall within the ambit of “resources” under the Act, the Order is a reminder that statutory powers can be activated by subsidiary legislation. Compliance planning should therefore include monitoring the status of relevant Orders and understanding how they interact with the parent Act.
From an enforcement and dispute perspective, the Order also supports administrative law analysis. If a requisition direction or related action is challenged, one of the first questions will be whether the enabling provisions were in operation. The Order provides a clear commencement date—16 April 2016—which can be used to establish the legal basis for actions taken during the period when Part III is active.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore’s legal framework can be responsive and time-bound. By activating Part III through an Order, the State can calibrate when requisition powers are needed, while keeping the detailed operational authority in the Act itself. This structure can be relevant in assessing proportionality and legislative intent in any later review or litigation.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — in particular, Part III (the provisions activated by this Order)
- Requisition of Resources Act — section 2 (the authorising provision for making such Orders)
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.