Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources Order 2023
- Act Code: RRA1985-S74-2023
- Legislation 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
- Order Number: No. S 74
- SL Citation: SL 74/2023
- Date Made: 30 January 2023
- Date of Requisition / Operational Date: 17 February 2023
- Commencement / Duration: Part 3 of the Act is to come into and remain in operation on 17 February 2023
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2023 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument that activates a specific portion of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. In practical terms, it is a “switching-on” order: it brings Part 3 of the Act into operation on a specified date, and keeps it in operation from that date.
Although the text of the Order is brief, its legal effect can be significant. The Requisition of Resources Act 1985 is designed to enable the State, particularly in situations of national need, to requisition (i.e., take or secure) resources that are required for defence or other critical purposes. The Order therefore does not itself set out the requisition powers; rather, it determines when the Act’s operative requisition regime (Part 3) becomes active.
For practitioners, the key point is that this Order is best understood as part of a broader legislative framework: the Act provides the substantive powers and procedures, while the Order determines the temporal activation of those powers. The Order’s function is therefore administrative and temporal, but it can have real-world consequences for affected parties once Part 3 is in force.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “This Order is the Requisition of Resources Order 2023.” This is a standard provision used to identify the subsidiary legislation for referencing in legal documents, notices, and compliance materials.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the operative provision. It states that the provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 17 February 2023. The wording “come into and remain in operation” indicates that once Part 3 is activated on that date, it continues to apply (subject to any later amendments, revocation, or further orders under the Act, if applicable). In other words, the Order does not merely provide a one-off activation; it establishes an ongoing legal state from the specified date.
Because the extract provided contains only these two sections, the Order itself does not describe the requisition mechanics, the scope of “resources,” compensation arrangements, or enforcement procedures. Those details are contained in Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. The Order’s legal role is to trigger that Part into effect. For a lawyer advising a client, the practical workflow is therefore: (1) confirm that Part 3 is active by reference to the Order; (2) consult Part 3 for the substantive requisition powers and procedural safeguards; and (3) assess how those provisions apply to the client’s assets, operations, or contractual obligations.
From a compliance perspective, the Order’s brevity should not mislead. In many legal regimes, the subsidiary instrument is the “gateway” that determines whether the substantive powers are available. Here, Section 2 is the gateway. Once Part 3 is in operation, any requisition-related actions taken under the Act would be grounded in the activated provisions. Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as a critical document when advising on risk, readiness, and potential government action affecting resources.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2023 is structured as a short subsidiary legislation instrument with a conventional format:
(1) Enacting formula—sets out the legal authority and the enabling power. The Minister for Defence makes the Order in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985.
(2) Citation provision—Section 1 identifies the Order.
(3) Operational provision—Section 2 specifies the date on which Part 3 of the Act comes into and remains in operation.
There are no schedules, definitions, or detailed operational clauses in the extract. This is typical for orders that are designed to activate or commence particular parts of a parent Act. The substantive content is located in the Act itself—particularly in Part 3.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
While the Order itself does not list categories of persons, the scope of application follows from Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985, which is activated by this Order. In general terms, requisition regimes affect persons and entities that control or possess relevant resources—for example, owners, operators, suppliers, or other stakeholders whose resources may be required for defence or other national needs.
Accordingly, the Order is relevant to a broad range of private and public actors, including businesses in sectors that may be considered “resources” under the Act (depending on how Part 3 defines or operationalises that concept). It is also relevant to legal advisers who manage government contracting, supply chain obligations, asset management, and contingency planning. Even where a client is not directly requisitioned, the activation of Part 3 may affect contractual risk allocation, force majeure analysis, and compliance planning.
Practitioners should also note the temporal dimension: the Order activates Part 3 from 17 February 2023. Therefore, the legal position for events occurring after that date may differ from events before it. Determining the relevant date is often essential in disputes about whether requisition powers were available at the time of an action.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2023 is important because it determines when the State can exercise the requisition powers contained in Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. Even though the Order is short, it can be a decisive document in legal analysis: it confirms that the requisition regime is active from a particular date.
For lawyers, the key significance lies in legal readiness and risk management. Once Part 3 is in operation, affected parties may need to anticipate government notices, directions, or actions relating to resources. This can have operational impacts (e.g., diversion of goods, allocation of services, or restrictions on use), and it can also raise legal questions about the rights and obligations of resource holders, including any compensation or procedural protections provided by the Act.
In addition, the Order’s existence underscores how Singapore’s legislative framework can be activated through subsidiary instruments. Practitioners should therefore treat such orders as part of ongoing legal monitoring. The status is shown as “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” and the timeline indicates the Order was made on 30 January 2023 and tied to the operational date of 17 February 2023. Where clients operate in regulated or defence-adjacent sectors, maintaining awareness of such instruments can be critical.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (including Part 3, which is activated by this Order)
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985—enabling provision: section 2 (authorises the Minister for Defence to make orders bringing provisions into operation)
- Legislation Timeline / Resources Act 1985 (as referenced in the legislation record for version control and verification)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources Order 2023 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.