Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(2)) (No. 2) Order 2025
- Act Code: RELA1983-S807-2025
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 17(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983
- Enacting Formula (President): President makes the Order in exercise of powers under section 17(2)
- Commencement / Coming into force: 17 December 2025
- Made date: 3 December 2025
- Schedule content: A “2025 Revised Edition of the subsidiary legislation” set out in the Schedule
- Amendments incorporated up to: 17 December 2025
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislative identifier shown in extract: SL 807/2025
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(2)) (No. 2) Order 2025 is an administrative-but-important legislative instrument that updates and consolidates Singapore’s subsidiary legislation into a “revised edition” format. In plain terms, it is a mechanism for publishing an authoritative, cleaned-up version of subsidiary laws so that practitioners and the public can rely on a coherent text rather than piecing together multiple amendments over time.
Although the extract provided is short, the legal function is clear: the Order is made under section 17(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983. That enabling provision empowers the President to bring into force a revised edition of subsidiary legislation. The revised edition incorporates amendments up to a specified cut-off date, thereby ensuring that the consolidated text reflects the law as it stands at that time.
Practically, this Order does not create new substantive regulatory policy by itself. Instead, it affects how the law is presented and accessed—by setting the commencement date for a revised edition of subsidiary legislation and confirming that the revised edition incorporates amendments up to 17 December 2025. For lawyers, this matters because the “current” text used in drafting, advice, litigation, and compliance checks must be accurate and authoritative.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation). The Order’s first provision identifies it as the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(2)) (No. 2) Order 2025.” This is a standard citation clause. While it may appear purely formal, it is important for legal referencing: courts, practitioners, and government systems often rely on correct citations to locate the precise instrument and its effective date.
Section 2 (Date of coming into force of the 2025 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation). The substantive operational clause in the extract is section 2. It provides that the “2025 Revised Edition of the subsidiary legislation set out in the Schedule incorporating all amendments up to 17 December 2025” comes into force on 17 December 2025. This clause performs two key functions:
- It fixes the effective date for the revised edition. From that date, the revised edition becomes the authoritative consolidated text for the subsidiary legislation included in the Schedule.
- It defines the amendment cut-off for incorporation. By stating that amendments up to 17 December 2025 are included, the Order clarifies the temporal scope of what the revised edition captures.
Enacting formula (President’s power under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983). The extract includes the enacting formula: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 17(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983, the President makes the following Order.” This matters for practitioners because it anchors the legal authority for the revised edition process. It also signals that the Order is part of a statutory framework for law revision and publication, rather than an ad hoc consolidation.
The Schedule (content not shown in the extract). The Order refers to “the Schedule” containing the “2025 Revised Edition of the subsidiary legislation.” While the extract does not list the specific subsidiary instruments, the Schedule is the heart of the revised edition exercise. In practice, the Schedule will identify which subsidiary legislation is included and, by implication, which texts are consolidated and updated. For lawyers, the Schedule determines the scope of what becomes authoritative on 17 December 2025.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional, minimal format typical of revised edition commencement instruments. Based on the extract, the structure is:
- Enacting formula (President’s authority under section 17(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983)
- Section 1 (Citation)
- Section 2 (Date of coming into force of the 2025 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation)
- The Schedule (the revised edition of the subsidiary legislation, incorporating amendments up to the cut-off date)
Notably, there are no substantive regulatory provisions in the extract (such as prohibitions, licensing requirements, offences, or enforcement powers). The legal “work” is done by the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 framework and by the Schedule’s consolidation effect. The Order functions as the formal bridge between the statutory authority to revise and the actual commencement of the revised edition text.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because this Order is about the publication and commencement of a revised edition of subsidiary legislation, it applies broadly to anyone who must interpret, rely on, or comply with Singapore’s subsidiary laws. That includes regulated entities, legal practitioners, government agencies, and courts.
However, the Order itself does not impose obligations directly. Instead, it determines the authoritative version of the subsidiary legislation included in the Schedule as at the commencement date. Therefore, the practical “applicability” depends on which specific subsidiary instruments are listed in the Schedule. Once those instruments are identified, the usual compliance and interpretive obligations under those subsidiary laws apply to the relevant persons and activities governed by them.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
It provides an authoritative consolidated text. In legal practice, accuracy of the operative text is critical. Amendments to subsidiary legislation can be scattered across multiple instruments over time. A revised edition consolidates those changes into a single, coherent version. This reduces the risk of relying on outdated provisions and improves the efficiency of legal research and drafting.
It clarifies the effective date and amendment cut-off. Section 2’s commencement and incorporation language is particularly important. Lawyers often need to determine whether a particular amendment was in force at a relevant time. By specifying that amendments up to 17 December 2025 are incorporated and that the revised edition comes into force on 17 December 2025, the Order helps establish the temporal integrity of the consolidated text.
It supports consistent interpretation by courts and tribunals. When disputes arise, parties may argue over the correct wording of a provision—especially where amendments have changed definitions, procedural requirements, or enforcement mechanisms. A revised edition, when properly commenced, supports consistent interpretation by providing a single authoritative source. This can be particularly valuable in litigation, regulatory investigations, and compliance audits.
It affects legal workflow and compliance systems. Many law firms and compliance teams maintain internal databases or “version-controlled” references to legislation. An Order like this triggers updates to those systems. Even though it may not change substantive policy, it can change the text that practitioners cite, the numbering or formatting of provisions, and the way amendments are reflected in the consolidated version.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983 (authorising framework; key enabling provision: section 17(2))
- Laws Act 1983 (referenced in the metadata extract as “Laws Act 1983” and “Timeline” context)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(2)) (No. 2) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.