Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022
- Act Code: RELA1983-S733-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 (specifically, section 11(3))
- Primary Subject Matter: Designation of the “2022 Revised Edition” of the Dental Registration Act 1999 as the sole and proper law of Singapore for that Act
- Key Provision: Section 2 (specified date and legal effect of the 2022 Revised Edition)
- Enacting Date: Made on 31 August 2022
- Commencement / Effective Date: With effect from 15 September 2022
- Citation / Number: No. S 733 (SL 733/2022)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022 is a procedural but legally significant instrument. In plain terms, it confirms which printed “revised edition” of a statute is to be treated as the authoritative law for Singapore, once the revision process has been completed.
Here, the Order relates specifically to the Dental Registration Act 1999. It does not amend the substantive rules of dental registration itself. Instead, it addresses the status of the revised text—i.e., it tells lawyers, courts, and government bodies which version of the Act should be treated as the “sole and only proper law” as of a specified date.
The legal mechanism comes from the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983. That Act provides a framework for producing revised editions of Singapore statutes. When a revised edition is published, section 11(3) empowers the President to make an Order specifying the date from which the revised edition becomes the authoritative version for the relevant Act.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is straightforward. It identifies the instrument as the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022.” This is standard in Singapore legislative drafting and primarily assists with referencing and legal citation.
Section 2 (Specified date for 2022 Revised Edition of Dental Registration Act 1999) is the core provision. It provides that with effect from 15 September 2022, the 2022 Revised Edition of the Dental Registration Act 1999 is the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of that Act.
This language—“sole and only proper law”—is crucial. It means that, from the effective date, the revised edition is treated as the definitive legal text. Practically, this reduces uncertainty that can arise when multiple versions of an Act exist (for example, earlier editions, consolidation texts, or versions incorporating amendments up to different dates). For legal practice, it ensures that arguments, pleadings, and judicial reasoning rely on the correct authoritative wording.
Although the extract does not show further operative clauses, the Order’s effect is clear: it “locks in” the revised edition as the governing text for the Dental Registration Act 1999. Any subsequent legal work concerning that Act—such as interpreting provisions, citing sections in court documents, or advising clients—should use the revised edition as the authoritative reference point.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a minimal, two-section format typical of revised-edition designation instruments.
Section 1 provides the citation. Section 2 specifies the effective date and the legal consequence: the revised edition becomes the sole and proper law of Singapore for the Dental Registration Act 1999.
Beyond the operative sections, the document includes the enacting formula and formalities (including the President’s making of the Order in exercise of powers under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983). It also includes the making date (31 August 2022) and the effective date (15 September 2022).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order itself is not directed at a particular class of regulated persons (unlike substantive regulatory statutes), its legal effect applies broadly to anyone who must rely on the Dental Registration Act 1999 as a source of law. This includes dental practitioners, dental service providers, applicants for registration, disciplinary bodies, and legal practitioners advising on rights and obligations under the Act.
In practice, the Order affects legal interpretation and citation. Courts and tribunals, government agencies, and private parties must treat the 2022 revised edition as the authoritative text when applying the Dental Registration Act 1999. Therefore, while the Order does not regulate dentists directly, it governs the version of the law that regulates them.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Revised edition Orders may appear minor because they do not change policy or create new regulatory duties. However, they are foundational to legal certainty. The “sole and only proper law” formulation ensures that the legal system operates with a single authoritative text, which is essential for consistent interpretation.
For practitioners, the importance is practical and immediate. When drafting submissions, preparing affidavits, or advising clients, lawyers must cite the correct statutory wording. If a practitioner were to rely on an outdated edition, there is a risk of citing provisions that have been renumbered, rephrased, or reorganised during the revision process. Even where revisions are intended to be non-substantive (as is often the case with revised editions), the authoritative text must still be used to avoid technical errors and to ensure that references align with the current legal framework.
From an enforcement and governance perspective, the Order also supports administrative consistency. Regulatory bodies and decision-makers applying the Dental Registration Act 1999 must use the revised edition as the legal basis for decisions. This reduces the likelihood of disputes about which version of the Act governs a particular matter, especially where proceedings span time periods around the effective date.
Finally, the Order demonstrates the operation of Singapore’s legislative consolidation and revision system. It confirms that the revised edition process is not merely editorial; it has legal consequences through the President’s power under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983. This is a key feature of Singapore’s approach to maintaining an accessible and up-to-date statutory corpus.
Related Legislation
- Dental Registration Act 1999 (the Act whose 2022 revised edition is designated as the sole and proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 (authorising Act; provides the mechanism under section 11(3) for revised-edition Orders)
- Legislation Timeline / Amendment Records (useful for confirming the correct version as at a given date, including the “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” reference)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.