How to Read Singapore Legislation
Singapore Statutes Online (SSO)
All Singapore Acts, subsidiary legislation, and related instruments are freely available at:
SSO is maintained by the Attorney-General's Chambers. It publishes the consolidated, up-to-date text of all legislation. Unlike some jurisdictions that publish amendments separately, SSO integrates all amendments directly into the main Act text. This means the consolidated version you read always reflects the current in-force version without needing to cross-reference separate amendment acts.
Acts vs subsidiary legislation
| Type | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Act | Primary legislation passed by Parliament | Health Products Act (Cap. 122D) |
| Regulations / Subsidiary legislation | Detailed rules made under the authority of an Act | HP(MD) Regulations 2010 |
| Orders / Notifications | Specific instruments (exemptions, appointed dates, etc.) | Various orders under the HPA |
For medical device regulation, the key documents are the HPA and the HP(MD) Regulations. HSA guidance documents are not legislation — they explain how HSA interprets and applies the legislation, but the legislation itself takes precedence.
Reading the HP(MD) Regulations
When reading the HP(MD) Regulations, note:
- "Act" refers to the Health Products Act;
- "Authority" refers to HSA;
- Schedules (at the end of the regulations) contain the classification rules and application requirements — these are as legally binding as the main body of the regulations.