Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021
- Act Code: RELA1983-S977-2021
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), section 7(2)
- Legislative Instrument No.: S 977/2021
- Made Date: 22 December 2021
- Commencement: 31 December 2021 (for the “2020 Revised Edition” of Acts)
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2 and the Schedule (Acts listed)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021 is a procedural legislative instrument that plays an important role in Singapore’s legal publishing framework. In practical terms, it provides the legal “trigger” for when a particular revised compilation of statutes—referred to as the 2020 Revised Edition of Acts—takes effect.
Singapore periodically issues revised editions of its laws to improve accuracy, organisation, and accessibility. These revised editions are not merely reprints; they are formal legal publications that can incorporate changes such as consolidation, re-numbering, and editorial amendments. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) sets out the mechanism for preparing and bringing these revised editions into force. This Order is one such instrument made under section 7(2) of that Act.
Although the extract provided is short, the Order’s function is significant for practitioners: it determines the commencement date of the revised edition of Acts listed in the Schedule. That commencement date affects how lawyers cite legislation, which version is authoritative, and what text is treated as legally operative.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) states that the instrument is the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 7) Order 2021”. This is a standard citation provision, but it matters for legal referencing and for identifying the instrument in official records.
Section 2 (Date of coming into force of 2020 Revised Edition) is the core operative provision. It provides that the 2020 Revised Edition of Acts, containing the Acts set out in the Schedule, comes into force on 31 December 2021. In other words, the Order does not itself amend substantive law in the way a typical amending Act does. Instead, it determines when the revised compilation becomes legally effective.
The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract) is central to understanding the scope of the Order. The Schedule lists the Acts that are included in the “2020 Revised Edition”. For practitioners, the Schedule effectively answers: which statutes are covered by this particular revised edition and therefore become authoritative as of the commencement date. Even where the revised edition is largely editorial or consolidating in nature, the legal effect is that the revised text is the version to rely on for legal advice, pleadings, and submissions.
Finally, the Enacting formula indicates that the President makes the Order “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act”. This confirms the constitutional and statutory basis for the instrument. It also signals that the Order is part of a structured legislative process rather than an administrative publication decision.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional format for subsidiary legislation made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Based on the extract, the instrument contains:
(1) Enacting formula — sets out the legal authority (section 7(2) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act) and the President’s role in making the Order.
(2) Section 1 (Citation) — identifies the instrument.
(3) Section 2 (Date of coming into force of 2020 Revised Edition) — the operative commencement provision.
(4) The Schedule — lists the Acts included in the 2020 Revised Edition. The Schedule is the mechanism by which the Order’s scope is defined.
Notably, the extract does not show “Parts” or “chapters” because the instrument is short and focused. The legal work is done by the commencement provision and the Schedule’s listing of covered Acts.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the Order does not “apply” to a class of persons in the way regulatory legislation would (e.g., licensing requirements for specific industries). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s authoritative text of the Acts listed in the Schedule. The practical effect is that courts, tribunals, lawyers, and the public must treat the revised edition text as the legally operative version from the commencement date.
In practice, the Order is most relevant to legal practitioners and litigators because it affects citation and reliance. For example, when drafting pleadings or preparing submissions, lawyers must ensure they cite the correct version of statutory provisions. Similarly, compliance teams and in-house counsel must ensure that internal legal references align with the revised edition that is in force.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is important because it governs the effective date of a revised compilation of Singapore’s Acts. In legal practice, the authoritative text of legislation is foundational. Even when substantive changes are minimal or editorial, the revised edition can alter numbering, formatting, and cross-references. That can affect how provisions are interpreted, cited, and located in legal databases.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the commencement date matters. If a revised edition comes into force on 31 December 2021, then from that date onwards, the revised text is the version that should be relied upon for legal arguments. Practitioners must therefore be careful when dealing with events spanning the transition period—particularly where a case involves conduct before and after the commencement date. While the revised edition may not necessarily change the underlying law, the authoritative text is what courts will use as the basis for interpretation.
Finally, the Order supports legal certainty and accessibility. Singapore’s legal publishing system aims to provide accurate, consolidated, and user-friendly legislation. By formally bringing the revised edition into force, the Order helps ensure that the legal community is working from a consistent and officially recognised source. For practitioners, this reduces the risk of citing outdated provisions and improves the reliability of legal research.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 7(2), which authorises the making of orders to bring revised editions into force.
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.