Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S977-2021
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 7(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Order Citation: No. S 977
- Date Made: 22 December 2021
- Commencement / Coming into force: 31 December 2021 (for the 2020 Revised Edition)
- Current Status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Parts: Not applicable (Order with a short operative structure)
- Schedule: Acts set out in the Schedule (not reproduced in the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021 is a procedural instrument made under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain terms, it is the legal mechanism that brings into effect a “revised edition” of the statute books—specifically, the 2020 Revised Edition of Acts—by setting a commencement date for that revised compilation.
Singapore’s legal system periodically produces revised editions of legislation. These revised editions consolidate and reprint the law in a more up-to-date and user-friendly form, reflecting amendments and changes up to a cut-off point. However, a revised edition is not automatically effective merely because it is published; it must be brought into force through the statutory process. This Order performs that function.
Although the extract contains only two operative provisions and a schedule reference, the legal effect is significant: it determines when the revised compilation becomes the authoritative version for the Acts listed in the Schedule. For practitioners, this matters because it affects how legislation is cited, interpreted, and relied upon in pleadings, advice, and court submissions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name by which the instrument is identified. It states that the Order is the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021.” While this may appear administrative, citation rules are important in legal practice: they ensure that references to subsidiary legislation are precise and unambiguous.
Section 2 (Date of coming into force of 2020 Revised Edition) is the core operative provision. It states that the 2020 Revised Edition of Acts, containing the Acts set out in the Schedule, comes into force on 31 December 2021. This is the point at which the revised edition becomes legally effective as the governing compilation for the listed Acts.
Enacting formula and statutory authority are also central to understanding the Order’s legal basis. The President makes the Order “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.” This indicates that the President’s role is not discretionary in substance; rather, the Act confers the power to set the commencement of the revised edition. For lawyers, this matters because it confirms that the commencement date is grounded in an express statutory delegation.
The Schedule (Acts set out in the Schedule) is referenced as the list of Acts included in the 2020 Revised Edition. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule’s contents, the Schedule is crucial: it defines the scope of what is brought into force on 31 December 2021. In practice, the Schedule determines which Acts are covered by the revised edition and therefore which statutory texts practitioners should treat as authoritative from the commencement date.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a compact format typical of commencement orders for revised law editions. It contains:
(1) Enacting formula stating the President’s authority under section 7(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
(2) Citation provision (section 1) identifying the Order.
(3) Commencement provision (section 2) specifying the date on which the 2020 Revised Edition of Acts comes into force.
(4) A Schedule listing the Acts included in the revised edition. The Schedule is the practical determinant of scope, even though the extract does not show its contents.
Notably, the Order does not create substantive legal rights or obligations by itself. Instead, it operates as a “gateway” instrument: it activates the revised statutory texts that are already prepared under the revised edition process.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because this is a commencement order for a revised edition of Acts, its “application” is best understood as applying to the legal community and the courts in the sense that it determines which version of the Acts is authoritative from the specified date. It affects everyone who relies on the listed Acts—lawyers, litigants, regulators, and the judiciary—because the revised edition becomes the operative compilation.
More specifically, the Order applies to the Acts set out in the Schedule. For practitioners, that means the revised edition’s effect is not universal across all Singapore legislation; it is limited to the Acts included in that Schedule. When advising clients or drafting documents, lawyers should ensure they are citing the correct revised edition version relevant to the time period in question.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is brief, it is important for legal certainty and accurate legal research. In litigation and advisory work, the precise statutory text matters. A revised edition can incorporate amendments, correct drafting errors, update cross-references, and standardise formatting. When a revised edition comes into force, it becomes the authoritative reference point for the listed Acts.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order indirectly affects regulated parties by ensuring that the legal texts used by government agencies and courts reflect the updated compilation. While the Order does not change the underlying law by itself, it ensures that the “published” legal framework is aligned with the revised edition process and that practitioners are not relying on outdated versions.
For practitioners, the most practical impact is on citation, research, and drafting. When preparing submissions, affidavits, or counsel’s arguments, lawyers must cite the correct statutory provisions as they appear in the authoritative revised edition. The Order’s commencement date—31 December 2021—provides a temporal anchor for determining which version should be used for matters arising after that date. It also helps avoid errors where older editions might still be accessible in databases or printed materials.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — the authorising Act, including section 7(2) which empowers the making of this Order.
- Revised Edition of the Laws (2020 Revised Edition of Acts) — the revised compilation that is brought into force on 31 December 2021 (as referenced in this Order).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.