Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws Act – Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S402-2009
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (Singapore Statutes Online “SL” notice)
- Document Number: S 402
- Chapter Reference: Chapter 275 (Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provision Referenced: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 August 2009 (appointed as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation comes into force)
- Date of Enactment / Dated: 4 August 2009
- Authorising / Issuing Body: Law Revision Commission (Chairman: Walter Woon)
- Schedule: Refers to “Acts set out in the Schedule” (not reproduced in the extract) under which subsidiary legislation is revised
What Is This Legislation About?
This notice is not a substantive regulatory statute creating new legal duties. Instead, it is an administrative “publication and commencement” instrument issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Its function is to notify the public that the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared a revised edition of subsidiary legislation and that a specified date has been appointed for that revised edition to come into force.
In plain language, the notice tells lawyers, agencies, and the public that a consolidated “2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation” has been published in loose-leaf form, incorporating amendments up to a cut-off date (here, “up to 1st August 2009”). The notice then appoints 31 August 2009 as the date when that revised edition becomes legally effective.
The notice therefore matters for legal practice because it affects which version of subsidiary legislation is authoritative at a given time. Even where the underlying subsidiary regulations have not changed in substance, the revised edition may reorganise, renumber, or consolidate amendments. Practitioners must ensure they cite the correct version and understand the effective date of the revised compilation.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notice begins with a “whereas” statement: under section 17(5), the Law Revision Commissioners have caused the 2009 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation made under specified Acts to be published in loose-leaf form. This signals that the notice is a formal step in the law revision process contemplated by the parent Act.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a specified date. The notice states that the revised edition incorporates “all amendments up to 1st August 2009.” This is crucial for practitioners. It provides a clear temporal boundary for what changes are reflected in the revised compilation. If a practitioner is researching the law as at a date after 1 August 2009 but before 31 August 2009, they must consider whether amendments after 1 August 2009 exist and whether they are reflected in the revised edition.
3. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition. The operative part of the notice provides that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 31st August 2009 as the date the 2009 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation shall come into force. This “appointed date” is the legal trigger for when the revised compilation becomes authoritative.
4. Formalities: dating and sign-off by the Chairman. The notice is dated “4th day of August 2009” and signed by WALTER WOON, Chairman, Law Revision Commission. It also includes an internal reference “[AG/RSL/1/2009]”. While these elements may appear procedural, they confirm the instrument’s authenticity and the issuing authority.
Practical note on the “Schedule”. The notice refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule” under which the subsidiary legislation is revised. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule typically identifies the parent Acts whose subsidiary legislation is included in the revised edition. For practitioners, this means the notice’s effect is limited to subsidiary legislation made under those specified Acts, not necessarily all subsidiary legislation in Singapore.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the notice is short and follows a standard legislative notice format:
(a) Title and status information (including “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026”). This indicates that the notice remains part of the current legislative record, even though it relates to a 2009 revised edition.
(b) Enacting formula and “THE SCHEDULE” references. The Schedule is where the relevant Acts are listed. In the extract, the Schedule is not shown, but it is integral because it defines the scope of subsidiary legislation covered.
(c) The “Whereas” clause explaining the legal basis under section 17(5) and the publication of the revised edition in loose-leaf form incorporating amendments up to 1 August 2009.
(d) The operative “Now, therefore” clause appointing 31 August 2009 as the commencement date for the revised edition.
(e) Date and signature block confirming the instrument’s formal issuance.
Because this is a notice rather than a full codifying statute, it does not contain multiple sections setting out substantive rules. Its “structure” is essentially a legal notification mechanism tied to the parent Act’s revision framework.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice applies to all persons who need to know the authoritative text of subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule. That includes lawyers, judges, government agencies, regulated entities, and members of the public who rely on subsidiary regulations for compliance.
However, the notice’s legal effect is primarily textual and temporal: it determines when the revised edition of subsidiary legislation comes into force. It does not directly regulate conduct by itself. Instead, it affects how the underlying subsidiary legislation is presented and which consolidated version is treated as the operative legal text from 31 August 2009.
In practice, the notice is especially relevant to practitioners dealing with:
- citation and referencing (ensuring the correct revised edition is cited);
- transitional issues (what version applied before and after 31 August 2009);
- interpretation (where consolidation may affect numbering or cross-references); and
- due diligence (confirming that amendments up to the stated cut-off date are included).
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is brief, it is important because it underpins the legal reliability and accessibility of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation. The Law Revision Commission’s process aims to produce a coherent, updated compilation that incorporates amendments. By appointing a specific commencement date, the notice ensures there is a clear point at which the revised edition becomes the authoritative reference.
For legal practitioners, the notice helps avoid common research and litigation pitfalls:
- Wrong version risk: Citing an outdated or superseded compilation can lead to incorrect quotations, misdirected arguments, or failure to identify the current legal position.
- Cut-off confusion: The notice specifies that amendments are incorporated up to 1 August 2009. Practitioners must be alert to whether any later amendments exist and whether they are reflected in the revised edition.
- Commencement clarity: The revised edition comes into force on 31 August 2009, not on the date of publication or the cut-off date for amendments. This distinction matters when determining the law applicable at a particular time.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notice contributes to administrative certainty. Agencies and regulated entities can rely on the revised compilation as the consolidated legal text from the appointed date. Even if the substantive rules remain unchanged, the revised edition may streamline the presentation of regulations, making compliance guidance and internal legal reviews more efficient.
Finally, this notice illustrates how Singapore manages the ongoing maintenance of its legal corpus. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured mechanism for law revision, and section 17(5) is one step in that process. Practitioners who understand these mechanisms can better interpret how and when legal texts are consolidated, which is particularly useful in complex matters involving historical amendments.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly section 17(5) (the enabling provision referenced in this notice)
- Subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to this notice (not reproduced in the extract)
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.