Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (Service of Notice of Requisition) Regulations
- Act Code: RRA1985-RG2
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Resources Act (Chapter 273), specifically sections 12, 41 and 48
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Revised Edition: 1990 RevEd (25 Mar 1992)
- Original Date: 18 Aug 1989
- Key Provisions: Regulation 1 (Citation); Regulation 2 (Definitions); Regulation 3 (Assignment of code and mobilisation centre); Regulation 4 (Service by broadcast/pager); Regulation 5 (Chattel to be furnished at mobilisation centre)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (Service of Notice of Requisition) Regulations (“the Regulations”) set out the practical mechanics for how the Government can requisition “chattels” (broadly, equipment and other tangible assets) under Singapore’s Resources Act. In particular, the Regulations focus on service—that is, how a notice of requisition is communicated to owners and custodians of resources when time is critical.
Instead of relying solely on traditional personal service or written notice, the Regulations permit the competent authority to communicate requisition information using codes disseminated through radio and television broadcasts and radio-communications pagers. The Regulations then require the relevant owners or persons in possession, custody or control of the chattels to deliver those chattels to a designated location (an “equipment marshalling area”) upon hearing or seeing the broadcast or pager transmission.
In plain terms, the Regulations are designed to ensure that, during emergencies or other circumstances contemplated by the Resources Act, the State can rapidly identify which resources must be furnished and where they must be delivered—without waiting for individual written notices to be received.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Definitions and the scope of “chattel”
Regulation 2 defines key terms used throughout the Regulations. The definition of “chattel” is central: it includes any substance, machine, equipment, vehicle, vessel or aircraft. However, it expressly excludes currency, gold securities or negotiable instruments. This exclusion is important for practitioners advising on whether a particular asset falls within the requisition regime.
The Regulations also define “authorised officer” as the person appointed by the competent authority under section 12(6) of the Resources Act for receiving chattels furnished pursuant to a notice of requisition. In addition, “equipment marshalling area” is defined as the place appointed by the competent authority to which a chattel must be delivered upon a notice of requisition. These definitions support the operational flow: codes are assigned or broadcast, and delivery is made to a specific receiving point.
2. Assignment of code and mobilisation centre (Regulation 3)
Regulation 3 empowers the competent authority to assign to an owner or a person with possession, control or custody of a chattel any code(s) (expressed in words, figures or symbols) and an equipment marshalling area in relation to that chattel.
Critically, the assignment is done by letter served in accordance with Regulation 3(2). The service method differs depending on the recipient:
- Individuals: the letter may be delivered personally or sent by registered post to the individual’s usual or last known place of residence or business.
- Firms, companies or corporations: the letter may be delivered personally to a relevant officer (partner, director, manager or secretary) or sent by registered post to the firm’s principal place of business or registered office.
Regulation 3(3) further allows the competent authority to vary or revoke any code(s) or equipment marshalling area assigned under Regulation 3(1). For legal advisers, this means that the operational instructions communicated to owners/custodians may change over time, and compliance obligations may be affected by later variations or revocations.
3. Service by broadcast over radio/television and radio-communications pager (Regulation 4)
Regulation 4 is the heart of the “service” mechanism. It provides that when a notice of requisition is served pursuant to specific provisions of the Resources Act, the notice may be communicated using broadcast or pager transmission.
Under Regulation 4(1), where the notice of requisition is served pursuant to section 41(3)(a) of the Act, it may be served by broadcasting over radio and television any code(s) in words, figures or symbols as determined by the competent authority.
Under Regulation 4(2), where the notice of requisition is served pursuant to section 41(3)(e) of the Act, it may be served by transmitting over a radio-communications pager any code(s) as determined by the competent authority.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key point is that the Regulations treat these communications as valid modes of service of the notice of requisition—meaning that the legal trigger for compliance may be satisfied by broadcast/pager transmission rather than by receipt of a letter.
4. Furnishing the chattel at the mobilisation/equipment marshalling area (Regulation 5)
Regulation 5 imposes the operational duty on owners and custodians. Where a person has been assigned code(s) under Regulation 3 and those code(s) have been broadcast or transmitted, the person must, upon hearing or seeing the broadcast or transmission, immediately furnish the chattel to which the code relates to the authorised officer at the assigned equipment marshalling area.
Regulation 5(2) provides an important qualification: if the broadcast or transmission states a time for reporting, the owner and custodian must furnish the chattel at that stated time (rather than “immediately”). This reduces ambiguity and provides a compliance window aligned with the operational needs of the mobilisation.
For lawyers, this is a compliance-critical provision. It links (i) prior assignment of codes and delivery location, (ii) public or targeted dissemination of those codes, and (iii) a time-sensitive obligation to deliver the relevant chattel to the authorised officer at the specified location.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are concise and structured around a single operational workflow:
Regulation 1 provides the citation. Regulation 2 sets definitions, including the scope of “chattel” and the roles of the “competent authority” and “authorised officer”. Regulation 3 addresses how codes and equipment marshalling areas are assigned and how those assignments may be varied or revoked. Regulation 4 then specifies the permitted modes of service of the notice of requisition—broadcast over radio/television and transmission over radio-communications pager. Finally, Regulation 5 sets the duty to furnish the chattel to the authorised officer at the designated equipment marshalling area, with an “immediately” standard subject to any stated reporting time.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply primarily to owners and to persons who have the possession, custody or control of relevant chattels. This includes individuals and corporate entities, as the assignment of codes and marshalling areas can be served on both natural persons and corporate officers, and the duty to furnish is imposed on those who actually control the resource.
In practice, the Regulations operate in two stages: first, the competent authority assigns codes and an equipment marshalling area to the relevant owner/custodian by letter served in accordance with Regulation 3(2). Second, when the competent authority serves a notice of requisition by broadcast or pager under Regulation 4, the assigned code(s) become the trigger for the duty under Regulation 5. Accordingly, liability and compliance obligations are closely tied to whether the person has been assigned the relevant code(s) and whether those codes are subsequently broadcast or transmitted.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
These Regulations are significant because they translate the broader requisition powers in the Resources Act into a rapid, code-based mobilisation system. In emergency or national preparedness contexts, delays in individual notice delivery can undermine operational effectiveness. By allowing service through mass media and pager transmission, the Regulations aim to ensure that the correct resources are identified and delivered quickly.
For practitioners advising businesses, logistics providers, equipment owners, or operators of vehicles and industrial machinery, the Regulations have direct operational implications. Companies may need internal procedures to ensure that, if codes are broadcast or transmitted, the right assets are immediately identified and dispatched to the correct equipment marshalling area. Because Regulation 5 requires furnishing “immediately” unless a reporting time is stated, businesses should consider contingency planning for rapid mobilisation and decision-making.
From a legal risk perspective, the Regulations also highlight the importance of monitoring and record-keeping. Since codes and marshalling areas may be varied or revoked under Regulation 3(3), counsel should consider advising clients on maintaining up-to-date internal documentation of assigned codes and delivery locations, and on ensuring that relevant personnel can act on broadcast/pager instructions without undue delay.
Finally, the Regulations’ exclusion of certain financial instruments from “chattel” may be relevant in disputes about whether particular assets fall within the requisition regime. Practitioners should carefully map the asset category to the statutory definition to determine whether the duty to furnish is engaged.
Related Legislation
- Resources Act (Chapter 273) — including sections 12, 41 and 48 (authorising provisions referenced by the Regulations)
- Timeline (legislation timeline / versioning reference for the current text as at 27 Mar 2026)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (Service of Notice of Requisition) Regulations for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.