Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws Act – Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S402-2009
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (statutory notice)
- Document Number: S 402
- Chapter: Chapter 275 (Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
- Key Legal Hook: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated): 31 August 2009
- Date of Notice: 4 August 2009
- Authorising / Issuing Body: Law Revision Commission (Chairman: Walter Woon)
- Schedule: Refers to the Acts set out in the Schedule (not reproduced in the extract) under which subsidiary legislation is revised
- Document Reference: [AG/RSL/1/2009]
What Is This Legislation About?
This document is a statutory notice issued under section 17(5) of Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act. In practical terms, it tells lawyers and the public when a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation will come into force.
The notice is tied to the Law Revision Commissioners’ process of producing a consolidated “revised edition” of subsidiary legislation. Such revised editions are typically published in a “loose-leaf” format and are designed to incorporate amendments up to a specified cut-off date. Here, the notice concerns the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under certain Acts listed in the Schedule.
While the notice is brief, it has real legal consequences. Once the appointed date arrives, the revised edition becomes the operative reference point for the subsidiary legislation covered by the revision exercise. Practitioners therefore rely on this notice to confirm the effective legal text and to avoid citing outdated versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Publication of the 2009 Revised Edition (loose-leaf) incorporating amendments up to 1 August 2009. The notice begins with a “Whereas” clause. It states that, under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have caused the 2009 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule to be published in loose-leaf form. The revised edition is said to incorporate all amendments up to 1st August 2009.
This matters because it defines the revision cut-off. For legal work—drafting, compliance advice, litigation research—knowing the amendment cut-off helps determine whether a practitioner should expect later amendments (after 1 August 2009) to be reflected in the revised edition or whether separate amendment instruments must be consulted.
2. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition. The operative part of the notice is the “Now, therefore” clause. It 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.
In other words, even though amendments up to 1 August 2009 are incorporated into the revised edition, the revised edition does not become legally effective until the appointed date. Practitioners should therefore distinguish between (a) the amendment incorporation date (1 August 2009) and (b) the effective date of the revised edition (31 August 2009).
3. General information notice; not a substantive amendment to the underlying laws. The notice is framed “for general information” and does not itself alter the substantive content of the subsidiary legislation. Instead, it performs an administrative-legal function: it confirms when the revised compilation becomes the authoritative version for the covered subsidiary legislation.
This is a common feature of revision notices under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. They are best understood as publication and commencement instruments rather than as legislative reforms. For practitioners, the practical question is not “what new policy does the notice introduce?” but “what version of the subsidiary legislation should I rely on as at a given date?”
4. Formalities and identification. The notice is dated 4th day of August 2009 and signed by WALTER WOON, Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. It also includes a reference code [AG/RSL/1/2009]. These details are relevant for citation and for verifying the authenticity and version of the notice when cross-referencing legal databases or printed compilations.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is not a long statute with multiple parts. It is a single notice under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The extract shows the typical layout of such notices:
(a) Enacting formula / heading: Identifies the document as a “Revised Edition of the Laws Act – Notice under Section 17(5)” and provides the document number (S 402) and chapter reference.
(b) “Whereas” clause: Explains the background—publication of the revised edition in loose-leaf form and incorporation of amendments up to a specified date.
(c) “Now, therefore” clause: States the key legal effect—appointment of the commencement date (31 August 2009).
(d) Date and signature block: Confirms the date of the notice and the issuing authority (Chairman, Law Revision Commission).
(e) Schedule reference: The notice refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule” under which the subsidiary legislation is made. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is essential because it defines the scope of subsidiary legislation covered by the revised edition.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This notice applies to users of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation—lawyers, regulators, businesses, and members of the public—because it determines when a particular revised compilation becomes effective. In that sense, it has a broad practical reach: anyone who must interpret, apply, or comply with subsidiary legislation covered by the revision will be affected by the effective date.
More specifically, the notice applies to the subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule. The Schedule acts as the gatekeeper for scope. Practitioners should therefore consult the Schedule (in the full document) to confirm whether the subsidiary legislation they are concerned with falls within the revised edition.
Importantly, the notice does not directly regulate conduct by itself. Instead, it governs the status and availability of the revised legal text. The underlying regulatory obligations still arise from the subsidiary legislation itself; this notice determines when the revised edition incorporating amendments becomes the operative reference.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is short, it is important for legal certainty and for accurate legal research. In practice, practitioners often face questions such as: “Which version of the subsidiary legislation is in force on a particular date?” or “Does the revised edition incorporate the latest amendments?” This notice provides a clear answer for the 2009 revised edition: it comes into force on 31 August 2009.
For litigation and advisory work, version control can be decisive. A regulation’s wording may change through amendments, and the revised edition may consolidate those changes. If a practitioner relies on an earlier compilation or an outdated loose-leaf update, there is a risk of citing provisions that do not reflect the law as it stood at the relevant time. This notice helps mitigate that risk by anchoring the commencement date of the revised compilation.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notice also supports administrative clarity. Regulators and regulated entities benefit when the legal text is consolidated and updated in a predictable manner. The incorporation of amendments up to 1 August 2009, coupled with the appointed commencement date, creates a structured timeline for when the consolidated text becomes authoritative.
Finally, the notice illustrates the broader legislative architecture of Singapore’s law revision system. Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commission undertakes periodic consolidation and revision exercises. Notices under section 17(5) are the mechanism by which the Commission brings those revised editions into force. Understanding this mechanism helps practitioners navigate the legal information ecosystem and interpret how revised editions relate to amendment instruments.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) – in particular section 17(5) (the enabling provision for this notice)
- Subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to this notice (not specified 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.