Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws Act – Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S402-2009
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL) Notice
- Document Number: No. S 402
- Chapter / Parent Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Hook: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Enacting Authority (as stated): Law Revision Commission (Chairman: Walter Woon)
- Date of Notice: 4 August 2009
- Commencement / Effective Date stated: 31 August 2009 (appointed as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation comes into force)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the platform display)
- Schedule: Refers to Acts set out in the Schedule (not reproduced in the extract) under which subsidiary legislation was revised
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it tells lawyers and the public when a particular revised compilation of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation (i.e., regulations, orders, and other subordinate instruments made under Acts) is treated as coming into force in its revised form.
The notice is anchored in section 17(5) of the parent Act. That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish a revised edition of subsidiary legislation in a consolidated, loose-leaf format, incorporating amendments up to a specified cut-off date. This notice then appoints the commencement date for that revised edition—here, 31 August 2009.
Although the extract is brief, the legal effect is significant for legal practice: it clarifies the date from which the revised compilation is authoritative for purposes of citation, interpretation, and reliance. For practitioners, this reduces uncertainty about whether a particular amendment has been incorporated into the “revised edition” text and from when that revised text should be used.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “whereas” and the publication of a revised edition
The notice begins with a recital: under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have caused to be published in loose-leaf form the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule. The recital also states that this revised edition incorporates all amendments up to 1 August 2009.
In plain language, the Law Revision Commissioners have already prepared a consolidated version of subsidiary legislation, updated through a defined amendment date. The remaining question is: when does that consolidated version become effective as the operative “revised edition”?
2. The operative appointment of the commencement date
The core operative clause is: “it is hereby notified for general information” that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 31 August 2009 as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force.
This is the legal mechanism by which the revised edition transitions from being a published compilation to being treated as the authoritative revised text for the relevant subsidiary legislation.
3. General information and public notice
The notice is explicitly “for general information.” That matters because revised editions affect how lawyers locate and cite the law. By publishing a notice in the official legal gazette format, the State provides an official reference point for practitioners, courts, and agencies.
In practice, this reduces disputes about whether a lawyer should cite the pre-revision text or the revised edition text, and it supports consistent legal research and drafting.
4. The role of the Schedule (Acts covered by the revised edition)
The notice refers to subsidiary legislation “made under the Acts set out in the Schedule.” While the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the structure indicates that the revised edition is not necessarily a universal revision of all subsidiary legislation; rather, it is a revision of subsidiary legislation made under the specific Acts listed in the Schedule.
For practitioners, this means that the notice’s effect is scoped: it applies to the subsidiary legislation under the listed Acts. When advising clients or preparing submissions, counsel should confirm whether the relevant subsidiary instrument falls within the Acts covered by the Schedule for that revised edition.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short gazette notice with an enacting formula and a Schedule reference. The extract shows the typical layout used for such notices:
(a) Title and status: identifies the notice and indicates it is a current version as at a given date on the platform.
(b) Enacting formula: signals that the notice is issued under the authority of the parent Act.
(c) Recitals (“Whereas” clauses): explain the background—publication of the revised edition in loose-leaf form and incorporation of amendments up to a cut-off date.
(d) Operative clause (“Now, therefore”): appoints the commencement date for the revised edition.
(e) Signature and date: includes the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission and the date of the notice (4 August 2009).
(f) Schedule reference: identifies the Acts whose subsidiary legislation is included in the revised edition.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
While the notice is directed “for general information,” its legal impact is felt primarily by legal practitioners, courts, government agencies, and regulated entities who rely on the accuracy and currency of subsidiary legislation texts.
More specifically, the notice applies to subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule. If a practitioner is dealing with a regulation, order, or other subsidiary instrument, the key question becomes whether that instrument is within the scope of the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation. If it is, then from 31 August 2009 the revised edition text is the operative revised compilation for that body of subsidiary legislation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the notice appears procedural. However, in legal practice, procedural instruments that determine the effective date of a consolidated legal text can be crucial. The law revision process affects how the legal system presents and updates subordinate legislation, and it influences how lawyers cite and interpret the law.
1. It provides certainty about the authoritative text
Revised editions incorporate amendments up to a specified date (here, 1 August 2009). By appointing 31 August 2009 as the date the revised edition comes into force, the notice provides a clear temporal boundary. This helps practitioners avoid errors where a regulation may have been amended but not yet reflected in the version they are using.
2. It supports consistent legal research and citation
Singapore’s legal research environment often relies on official consolidated versions. When drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, or advising clients, counsel typically cite the most authoritative version available. A notice like this underpins that practice by establishing when the revised edition becomes effective.
3. It affects compliance and regulatory interpretation
Subsidiary legislation frequently governs compliance obligations—licensing conditions, procedural requirements, penalties, and regulatory standards. If the revised edition incorporates amendments, then the effective date of the revised edition can matter for determining which version of the rules applies at a given time. Even where the substantive amendments were already made, the revised edition’s coming into force helps ensure that the consolidated text used in practice aligns with the amended legal position.
4. It reflects the governance of law revision in Singapore
The notice also illustrates the institutional role of the Law Revision Commission and the legal framework in the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. For practitioners, understanding this framework can be useful when dealing with questions about the status of revised editions, the incorporation of amendments, and the reliability of official compilations.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) – in particular section 17(5) (the enabling provision for this notice)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act - Notice under Section 17(5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.