Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022
- Act Code: RELA1983-S733-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 (specifically section 11(3))
- Primary Subject: Designation of the “2022 Revised Edition” of the Dental Registration Act 1999 as the sole and proper law
- SL Number: S 733/2022
- Date Made: 31 August 2022
- Commencement / Effective Date: 15 September 2022 (with effect from)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2
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 tells lawyers, courts, and the public which version of the law must be treated as the authoritative text. Specifically, it designates the “2022 Revised Edition” of the Dental Registration Act 1999 as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for that Act.
This Order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983. That parent Act provides a mechanism for consolidating, revising, and reissuing legislation in a revised form. Over time, statutes accumulate amendments, repeals, and transitional provisions. A revised edition aims to present the law in a cleaned-up, consolidated, and up-to-date form—while preserving the substance of the law as it stands at the revision date.
Although the Order itself is short, its effect is substantial: once the specified effective date arrives, the revised text becomes the definitive legal reference for the Dental Registration Act 1999. This reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that legal practitioners rely on the correct, current statutory wording when advising clients, drafting pleadings, or arguing cases.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal short title of the instrument. It states that the document is the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2022.” While this may appear purely administrative, citations are important in legal practice because they allow practitioners to accurately identify the instrument when referencing it in submissions, correspondence, or research.
Section 2 (Specified date for 2022 Revised Edition of Dental Registration Act 1999) is the core operative 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 is deliberately emphatic. It means that, for legal purposes, the revised edition is treated as the authoritative statutory text, and other versions (including earlier editions or unofficial compilations) should not be relied upon as the “proper law” once the effective date has passed.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the phrase “sole and only proper law” has practical consequences. When a dispute turns on the interpretation of a provision in the Dental Registration Act 1999, the court will expect counsel to cite the correct version. If counsel cites an earlier version, or a version that has not been updated to reflect the revised edition, the citation may be challenged as inaccurate or outdated. The Order therefore functions as a “version control” mechanism for statutory interpretation and legal research.
Enacting formula and making details also matter. The Order states that it is made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983. It also records that it was made on 31 August 2022 by the President, by command, with the Secretary to the Cabinet signing. These elements confirm the constitutional and statutory authority for the instrument and help practitioners verify that the designation is validly made.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a straightforward manner, with only two sections in the extract provided. In general terms:
Section 1 is the citation provision (short title).
Section 2 is the substantive provision that specifies the effective date and declares the legal status of the revised edition of the Dental Registration Act 1999.
There are no schedules, parts, or detailed substantive regulatory provisions within the Order itself. Instead, the Order operates as a formal “switch” that activates the revised edition as the authoritative text from a specified date.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order does not “apply” to a class of persons in the way that regulatory statutes do (for example, it does not impose duties on dentists or registrants directly). Rather, it applies to the legal system’s treatment of the Dental Registration Act 1999. Its primary audience is therefore legal practitioners, courts, government agencies, and anyone who must rely on the correct statutory text.
That said, the Order has downstream effects on regulated persons and processes governed by the Dental Registration Act 1999. Because the revised edition becomes the sole and proper law, any rights, obligations, licensing requirements, disciplinary mechanisms, or procedural rules contained in that Act must be understood by reference to the revised text as at and after 15 September 2022.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the Order may seem minor because it contains no substantive regulatory rules. However, it is important because it ensures legal certainty and consistency in statutory interpretation. Courts and practitioners must rely on the correct version of legislation. When a revised edition is designated as the sole and proper law, it reduces the risk of interpretive errors caused by outdated or superseded wording.
For practitioners, the Order is particularly relevant in litigation and compliance work. When drafting submissions, preparing advice, or reviewing statutory obligations, counsel must ensure that citations correspond to the operative version. The Order’s effective date (15 September 2022) is a key research checkpoint: if a matter concerns events after that date, counsel should generally cite the revised edition as the authoritative text. If the matter concerns events before that date, counsel may still need to consider the legal position at the relevant time, but the revised edition will typically remain the proper reference point for the statutory provisions as they stand under the revision framework.
In addition, the Order demonstrates the governance of Singapore’s legislative consolidation process. By using section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983, the President can formally bring a revised edition into force as the sole proper law. This helps maintain the integrity of the legal system while allowing legislation to be updated for clarity and usability without undermining the continuity of the law.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 (authorising Act; section 11(3) is the power used)
- Dental Registration Act 1999 (the Act whose 2022 revised edition is designated as the sole and proper law)
- Timeline / Legislation versions (practitioner reference point for confirming the correct version as at a given date)
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.