Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S718-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (Gazette notification)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislation Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Gazette / Notification Number: SL 718/2014
- Date Made: 21 October 2014
- Commencement (effect): 31 October 2014 (for the specified subsidiary legislation)
- Key Legal Mechanism: “Sole and only proper Statute Book” specification under section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 is a procedural but highly consequential legal instrument. In substance, it tells courts, lawyers, and the public which printed/revised compilation of subsidiary legislation must be treated as the authoritative “Statute Book of Singapore” for certain pieces of subsidiary legislation.
Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate and up-to-date statutory texts. Over time, subsidiary legislation (regulations, orders, rules, and other delegated legislation) is amended, consolidated, and republished. To manage this, the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a framework for producing “revised editions” of subsidiary legislation in a loose-leaf or consolidated form. The Law Revision Commissioners publish these revised editions, and then—where appropriate—issue notifications to ensure that the revised edition becomes the sole and only proper reference for courts and all purposes.
This particular notification is the “No. 3” notification for the 2014 revised edition cycle. It operates under section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notification specifies that, with effect from 31 October 2014, the 2014 revised edition of the subsidiary legislation listed in the schedule is to be treated as the sole and only proper Statute Book in respect of those pieces of subsidiary legislation. In practical terms, it reduces uncertainty about which version of subsidiary legislation is legally authoritative.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notification is grounded in section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to specify—by notification in the Gazette—that a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore for the specified subsidiary legislation.
This is not merely an editorial or publishing step. The legal effect is to elevate the revised edition to the authoritative status that courts must use. Where multiple versions exist (for example, earlier printings, loose-leaf updates, or unofficial compilations), the notification provides a clear rule for legal reliance.
2. The “sole and only proper Statute Book” specification
The operative effect of the notification is expressed in the “Now therefore” clause. The Law Revision Commissioners specify that the 2014 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act shall, with effect from 31 October 2014, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of the subsidiary legislation set out in the schedule.
For practitioners, this means that when advising on the content of the specified subsidiary legislation, or when drafting pleadings, submissions, or compliance documentation, the revised edition (as at the relevant effective date) is the correct legal text to cite and rely on. Courts are directed to treat that revised edition as the proper statutory reference for those instruments.
3. The relationship to the “as in force on 1 October 2014” publication
The preamble explains 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 to be published in loose-leaf form, as in force on 1 October 2014. The notification then links that publication to the later effective date for “sole and only proper” status.
This two-step approach matters. First, the revised edition is produced and published based on the legal position as at 1 October 2014. Second, the notification ensures that, from 31 October 2014, that revised edition becomes the exclusive authoritative Statute Book for the specified subsidiary legislation. The gap between the “as in force” date and the “sole and only proper” effective date reflects administrative and publication timing.
4. Formalities and authority
The notification is made on 21 October 2014 by V K Rajah SC, Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. It includes an administrative reference number in square brackets (AG/LLRD/RSL/275/2014/1 Vol. 1), which is typical of Gazette notifications and supports traceability within the Law Revision Commission’s records.
Although the excerpt provided does not reproduce the schedule’s list of subsidiary legislation, the legal effect still depends on that schedule. In practice, lawyers should consult the schedule in the official publication to identify exactly which subsidiary instruments are covered by the “sole and only proper Statute Book” designation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured in a conventional Gazette format for section 17(8) specifications. It contains:
(a) Title and status information indicating it is the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) (No. 3) Notification 2014 and that it is current as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula and preamble explaining the legal background: publication under section 17(5) and the power to specify sole and only proper Statute Book under section 17(8).
(c) The operative clause stating the effective date (31 October 2014) and the legal consequence (sole and only proper Statute Book for the subsidiary legislation in the schedule).
(d) The schedule (not reproduced in the excerpt) which identifies the specific subsidiary legislation instruments to which the notification applies.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the notification is not a regulatory scheme directed at the public in the way that substantive regulations are, it has broad practical applicability. It applies to all courts and for all purposes in relation to the subsidiary legislation specified in the schedule. This includes civil and criminal proceedings, administrative contexts where statutory texts are relied upon, and legal compliance activities where the authoritative text must be used.
Practically, it affects:
• Lawyers and law firms when citing subsidiary legislation and ensuring that references are to the correct authoritative version;
• Government agencies when drafting guidance, enforcement instruments, and internal legal documents;
• Regulated entities and practitioners who must comply with subsidiary legislation and need confidence that the text they rely on is legally authoritative.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the notification may look like a technical publishing matter. However, for legal practice, it is important because it resolves a fundamental problem: which version of subsidiary legislation is legally authoritative. In litigation and compliance, the precise wording of subsidiary legislation can determine outcomes—such as whether a requirement has been met, whether a procedure is valid, or whether an offence or regulatory obligation is triggered.
By declaring the 2014 revised edition to be the sole and only proper Statute Book for the specified instruments, the notification reduces disputes over textual authority. It also supports consistency across courts and legal actors. When a practitioner cites the revised edition, the citation aligns with the legal rule that courts must treat that edition as the proper reference.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notification supports administrative certainty. Agencies and regulated entities can rely on the revised edition as the authoritative text, which is crucial for regulated industries where compliance depends on exact regulatory provisions. It also helps avoid inadvertent reliance on outdated or unofficial versions of subsidiary legislation.
Finally, the notification illustrates the broader architecture of Singapore’s law revision system. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured method for producing revised editions and then, through Gazette notifications under section 17(8), ensuring that those revised editions become legally authoritative. For practitioners, understanding this mechanism is useful when dealing with questions of statutory citation, version control, and the admissibility or correctness of legal references in submissions.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 17(5) (publication of revised editions) and section 17(8) (Gazette notification making the revised edition the sole and only proper Statute Book)
- Subsidiary legislation instruments listed in the schedule to this notification (to be consulted in the official Gazette/legislation record)
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.