Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S718-2014
- 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) specifying a revised edition as the sole and proper statute book
- Gazette/SL Reference: SL 718/2014
- Date Made: 21 October 2014
- Effective Date (as specified): 31 October 2014
- Current Version 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 “statute book” notification. In plain terms, it tells courts, lawyers, and the public which published version of certain subsidiary legislation should be treated as the authoritative legal text for legal purposes.
Singapore’s legal system relies on legislation being consolidated and revised over time. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of laws (including subsidiary legislation) in a structured, consolidated form. This notification is part of that revision process. It does not create new substantive rights or offences by itself; rather, it determines which version of the revised subsidiary legislation is the “sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” for the specified pieces of subsidiary legislation.
Accordingly, the practical “subject matter” of this notification is legal certainty and citation. It reduces ambiguity about which text applies in court proceedings—especially where earlier loose-leaf or prior editions may exist. For practitioners, the notification is crucial when preparing pleadings, drafting submissions, or citing statutory provisions: it affects what courts will treat as the correct authoritative text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notification is made “pursuant to section 17(8)” of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That provision authorises the Law Revision Commissioners, by notification in the Gazette, to specify that a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation shall be the sole and only proper statute book in respect of the relevant pieces of subsidiary legislation.
In other words, section 17(8) is the legal lever that converts a revised publication into the definitive reference text for all courts and all purposes. This is a formal legal step: it ensures that the revised edition is not merely a convenient compilation, but the legally authoritative version for litigation and other legal uses.
2. The “Whereas” clauses: what has already happened
The notification contains “Whereas” clauses that explain the background. It states that, under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners caused the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation (made under the Act) to be published in loose-leaf form as in force on 1 October 2014.
This matters because it clarifies that the revised edition was prepared as a consolidation of subsidiary legislation “as in force” at a specified date (1 October 2014). The notification then bridges the gap between (a) publication in loose-leaf form and (b) legal authority in court proceedings.
3. The operative clause: sole and only proper statute book
The central operative statement is that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Act shall, with effect from 31 October 2014, be the “sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” in respect of those pieces of subsidiary legislation.
This phrase is legally significant. “Sole and only proper Statute Book” indicates that, for the specified subsidiary legislation, courts should treat the revised edition as the authoritative text. Practically, this means that when counsel cites or relies on those subsidiary provisions, the citation should align with the revised edition rather than earlier versions or unofficial compilations.
4. Formalities: made date and signatory
The notification records that it was “Made on 21 October 2014” and is signed by V K Rajah SC, Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. The inclusion of the signatory and date supports the validity and traceability of the Gazette notification.
Although these details may appear administrative, they are important for legal research and verification. In disputes about the correct legal text, practitioners often need to demonstrate that the notification was properly made and that the effective date has been reached.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured in a relatively simple format typical of Gazette notifications under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It comprises:
(a) Title and status information (including “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026” on the portal);
(b) Enacting formula (identifying the Law Revision Commissioners and the statutory basis);
(c) The “Whereas” clauses (explaining the prior publication under section 17(5) and the legal authority under section 17(8));
(d) The operative clause (specifying the effective date and the “sole and only proper Statute Book” effect); and
(e) Formal execution details (made date, signatory, and reference number).
Notably, the extract provided does not list the specific subsidiary legislation pieces covered in the Schedule. In the full Gazette instrument, the Schedule would identify the subsidiary legislation to which the “sole and only proper Statute Book” status applies. For practitioners, the Schedule is therefore the critical research component: it tells you exactly which subsidiary instruments are captured by the notification.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This notification applies to courts and to all persons for “all purposes” in relation to the specified subsidiary legislation. The operative language—“in all courts and for all purposes”—is broad. It is not limited to particular categories of litigants, industries, or procedural contexts.
In practice, the notification affects anyone who needs to identify, cite, or rely on the authoritative text of the relevant subsidiary legislation. That includes lawyers drafting pleadings and submissions, compliance officers preparing regulatory analyses, and researchers verifying the correct legal wording for advice or litigation.
While the notification is not directed at conduct in the way that substantive regulations are, it has a direct impact on legal practice: it determines which text is treated as authoritative. If a practitioner cites an outdated or non-authoritative version, the citation may be challenged or rendered less persuasive, particularly where the revised edition differs in numbering, formatting, or consolidation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
1. It promotes legal certainty and correct citation
The most important value of this notification is certainty. Singapore’s legislative landscape includes numerous subsidiary instruments that may be amended, consolidated, and republished. The notification ensures that, for the covered subsidiary legislation, there is one definitive statute book for court and legal purposes.
For practitioners, this reduces the risk of citing the wrong version. In litigation, citation accuracy is not merely academic: it can affect how provisions are interpreted, how amendments are tracked, and whether the court accepts the cited text as the operative one.
2. It affects how practitioners research and verify the “current” legal text
The notification’s effective date (31 October 2014) is a key research point. When advising on matters that arose around the time of revision, practitioners must consider whether the revised edition had taken effect and whether the “sole and only proper Statute Book” status applies to the relevant provisions.
Even if the substantive content of a regulation has not materially changed, the revised edition may reorganise, renumber, or reformat provisions. The notification therefore has a practical effect on drafting and referencing: counsel should align citations to the revised edition to avoid confusion.
3. It supports the integrity of the legal system’s publication process
By formalising the authority of the revised edition, the Law Revision Commissioners’ notification under section 17(8) strengthens the reliability of Singapore’s official legislative publications. It ensures that the revised edition is not treated as a secondary compilation but as the authoritative statute book for the covered subsidiary legislation.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, this matters because regulatory compliance often depends on precise wording. While this notification does not itself impose regulatory obligations, it ensures that the obligations are understood and referenced using the correct authoritative text.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular, section 17(5) (publication in loose-leaf form) and section 17(8) (Gazette notification making the revised edition the sole and only proper statute book)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notifications — other “No. 1”, “No. 2”, etc. notifications that similarly designate revised editions as authoritative for specified subsidiary legislation
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.