Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S718-2014
- Jurisdiction: Singapore
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (SL)
- Enacting Authority: Law Revision Commissioners
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: Gazette notification under section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Gazette/SL Reference: SL 718/2014
- Made Date: 21 October 2014
- Effective Date: 31 October 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 is a procedural “law revision” instrument. It does not create new substantive rights or offences by itself. Instead, it determines which version of certain subsidiary legislation will be treated as the authoritative “Statute Book of Singapore” for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
In practical terms, the notification is part of Singapore’s legal consolidation and revision framework. Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation (made under various Acts). These revised editions are produced in a controlled, consolidated form so that practitioners and courts can rely on a single authoritative text rather than navigating multiple amendments and historical versions.
This particular notification—made under section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—specifies that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation (as set out in the Schedule) shall, with effect from 31 October 2014, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of the subsidiary legislation pieces listed in the Schedule. The notification therefore has a “version control” function: it tells courts and users which consolidated text is legally proper.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “sole and only proper Statute Book” effect (core operative clause). The central provision is the specification by the Law Revision Commissioners that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall be, from 31 October 2014, “the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” for the subsidiary legislation covered. This language is significant. It is not merely a recommendation or guidance; it is a legal designation that affects how the law is to be cited, relied upon, and interpreted in “all courts and for all purposes”.
2. Legal basis: section 17(5) and section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notification’s preamble explains the statutory pathway. First, under section 17(5), the Law Revision Commissioners cause the 2014 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation to be published in loose-leaf form, as in force on 1 October 2014. Second, under section 17(8), the Commissioners may, by Gazette notification, specify that the revised edition shall be the sole and only proper Statute Book for the relevant subsidiary legislation. This two-step structure matters for practitioners: it clarifies that the revised edition is prepared from a defined “as at” date (1 October 2014) and then formally designated as authoritative from a later effective date (31 October 2014).
3. Temporal effect: effective date of 31 October 2014. The notification states that the revised edition becomes the sole and only proper Statute Book “with effect from 31 October 2014.” For litigation and compliance work, this effective date can be crucial. If a matter arises between 1 October 2014 (the “as in force” date for the content of the revised edition) and 31 October 2014 (the date the revised edition becomes the sole proper statute book), counsel may need to consider how to cite the law and which version is proper for the relevant time period. While the notification itself is about the authoritative statute book, the effective date can still influence how courts expect citations to be made.
4. Scope: “in respect of those pieces of subsidiary legislation” set out in the Schedule. The notification does not purport to cover all subsidiary legislation. Its scope is limited to the “pieces of subsidiary legislation” made under the authorising Act and set out in the Schedule to the notification. The extract provided shows the Schedule heading but not the list of instruments. In practice, a lawyer must consult the Schedule to identify exactly which subsidiary legislation instruments are captured. That is the key to determining whether the “sole and only proper Statute Book” designation applies to a particular regulation, order, or other subsidiary instrument.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured in a typical Gazette/SL format. It contains an enacting formula and a preamble (“Whereas” clauses) that explain the legal context and authority. The operative part is contained in the Schedule framework and the statement that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall be the sole and only proper Statute Book for the specified subsidiary legislation.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the most important “structural” element is the Schedule. Even though the extract focuses on the general effect, the Schedule is what determines the precise legal coverage. The Schedule effectively functions as the “index” of which subsidiary legislation instruments are brought within the sole-and-only Statute Book designation.
There are also process and status indicators on the legislation portal (e.g., “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and the timeline showing “27 Oct 2014” and “SL 718/2014”). These are not substantive legal provisions, but they help lawyers ensure they are consulting the correct version of the notification and that no later amendments or replacements have altered its effect.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notification applies to courts and to all users of the law (“for all purposes”), but its practical impact is felt through how legal texts are cited and relied upon. In other words, it is not aimed at a particular class of regulated persons (such as employers, licensees, or consumers). Instead, it governs the authoritative status of the revised subsidiary legislation texts.
Its direct legal effect is therefore on legal proceedings and legal interpretation. When a court is dealing with the subsidiary legislation listed in the Schedule, the revised edition designated by the notification is the proper statute book to consult. Lawyers should treat the designated revised edition as the authoritative reference point for the text of those subsidiary instruments.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this notification is procedural, it is important because it affects legal certainty and citation practice. In Singapore’s legal system, subsidiary legislation can be amended over time. Without a mechanism to consolidate and designate an authoritative text, practitioners might face difficulties identifying which version is legally proper for court use. This notification resolves that by designating a single revised edition as the sole proper statute book for the specified instruments.
For litigators, the notification can be relevant in at least three ways. First, it influences how counsel should cite the subsidiary legislation. Courts expect citations to refer to the proper authoritative text. Second, it can affect interpretation where amendments have occurred: the revised edition is intended to reflect the law as consolidated “as in force” at the relevant cut-off date (1 October 2014), and then becomes the authoritative statute book from 31 October 2014. Third, it supports efficient legal research: practitioners can rely on the revised edition rather than cross-checking multiple amendment histories.
For compliance and advisory work, the notification matters because regulatory obligations are often set out in subsidiary legislation. Even though the notification does not change the obligations itself, it changes the authoritative source text that practitioners should use when advising clients. Using an outdated or non-authoritative version could create risk—especially where the text has been consolidated or corrected in the revised edition.
Finally, this notification illustrates a broader principle in Singapore’s law revision framework: the Law Revision Commissioners’ role is not only to compile but also to ensure that the compiled texts become legally proper for court use. That is why the notification’s operative language is so strong (“sole and only proper Statute Book”).
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(5) (publication of revised subsidiary legislation) and section 17(8) (Gazette notification designating the sole and only proper statute book).
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notifications — other “No. X” notifications that designate revised editions for different sets of subsidiary legislation (consult the legislation timeline for the relevant series).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.