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, SSO integrates amendments into the main Act text, so the text you read reflects the current in-force version.
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.