Laws of SGSSI

This page contains links to the legislation applied to, and made by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands from 1908 onwards.This may not comprise of all the applicable legislation and cannot be relied upon as an authoritative source for GSGSSI law. Anyone having a specific query about the law as it applies to GSGSSI should contact GSGSSI or seek their own independent legal advice.

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Laws and Legislation

South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands are a self governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. Laws for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands are made by the Commissioner for the Territory who can make ‘Ordinances’, which are primary legislation, and can make secondary legislation ‘Orders and Regulations’.

The authority for the Commissioner to make laws is set out in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Order 1985 (available under the '1980-1989' tab) made under the British Settlements Act 1887.

From 1908 until 1985 South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands were dependencies of the Falkland Islands. During this time the laws for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands were made by the Governor of the Falkland Islands in Council. Not all of this local legislation is available on this website, access to the laws of the Falkland Islands is available on the Falkland Islands Statute Law Database: www.legislation.gov.fk

The United Kingdom government also makes laws that are directly applied to South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. These laws generally relate to matters of international relations. They can be found on the United Kingdom’s legislation website.

In relation to matters that are not covered by local legislation or directly applied legislation then in accordance with the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance 1977, the law in force in England on 22nd May 1900 is in force in South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands “in so far as the circumstances permit and provided they are not inconsistent with or repugnant to any Ordinance or Order in Council”.

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands has embarked on a review of its existing legislation and intends to introduce new legislation on key areas over the next few years.
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Legislation 2015-Onwards

 

2019

Gazette No 1 (31st January 2019)

  • Notices 1-4

Notice 1: Appointment of Director of Fisheries
Notice 2: Appointment of Registrar
Notice 3: Appointment of Registrar
Notice 4: Appointment of Senior Magistrate

  • Appropriation (2019) Ordinance 2019 (No 1 of 2019).

Complete: Gazette No 1 (31st January 2019) [pdf, 0.3mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (29th May 2019)

  • Notices 5-6

Notice 5: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 6: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers

  • Wildlife and Protected Areas (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 (No 2 of 2019)
  • Fisheries (Conservation and Management)(Amendment) Ordinance 2019 (No 3 of 2019)
  • Marine Protected Areas Order 2019 (SR&O No 1 of 2019)

Complete: Gazette No 2 (29th May 2019) [pdf, 0.4mb]

 

Gazette No 3 (29th May 2019)

  • Notices 7-8

Notice 7: Wildlife and Protected Areas (Amendment) Ordinance 2019
Notice 8: Fisheries (Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Ordinance 2019

Complete: Gazette No 3 (29th May 2019) [pdf, 0.2mb]

 

Gazette No 4 (21st Oct 2019)

  • Notices 9-14

Notice 9: Appointment of Police Officers
Notice 10: Public Holidays 2020
Notice 11: Appointment of Acting Attorney General and Acting Coroner
Notice 12: Customs (Declaration and Clearance) Order 2016 - Fees
Notice 13: Customs (Declaration and Clearance) Order 2016 - Exemptions
Notice 14: Visitors Ordinance - Passenger Landing Fees

  • Visitors (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 (No 4 of 2019);
  • Heavy Fuel Oil (Prohibition of Carriage and Use) Ordinance 2019 (No 5 of 2019).

Complete: Gazette No 4 (21st Oct 2019) [pdf, 0.5mb]

 

2018

Gazette No 1 (5th March 2018)

  • Notices 1-4

Notice 1: Appointment of Judge of the Supreme Court
Notice 2: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 3: Appointment of Chief of Police
Notice 4: Appointment of Police Officers

  • Appropriation (2018) Ordinance 2018

Complete: Gazette No 1 (5th March 2018) [pdf, 0.4mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (27th June 2018)

  • Notices 5-9

Notice 5: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 6: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 7: Public Holidays 2019
Notice 8: Appointment of Director of Fisheries
Notice 9: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

  • SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION: Commemorative Coins (2018 and 2019) Order 2018

Complete: Gazette No 2 (27th June 2018) [pdf, 0.4mb]

 

2017

Gazette No 1 (1st March 2017)

Notice 1: Appointment of Collector of Customs
Notice 2: Appointment of Customs Officers
Notice 3: Fees payable under the Customs (Declaration and Clearance) Order 2016
Notice 4: Exemptions under the Customs (Declaration and Clearance) Order 2016
Notice 5: Appointment of Collector of Taxes

Complete: Gazette No 1 (1st March 2017) [pdf, 0.2mb]

Guide to the Police Ordinance [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (18th April 2017)

  • Notices 6-9

Notice 6: Appointment of Attorney General
Notice 7: Designation of places to be used as police stations
Notice 8: Appointment of Police Officers and Reserve Police Officers
Notice 9: Appointment of Chief of Police

 Complete: Gazette No 2 (18th April 2017) [pdf, 0.2mb]

 

Gazette No 3 (21st December 2017)

  • Notices 10-16

Notice 10: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 11: Public Holidays 2018
Notice 12: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officer
Notice 13: Appointment of Acting Attorney General and Acting Coroner
Notice 14: Appointment of Attorney General
Notice 15: Appointment of Acting Coroner
Notice 16: Appointment of Acting Registrar General

 Complete: Gazette No 3 (21st December 2017) [pdf, 0.2mb]

 

2016

Gazette No 1 (24th March 2016)

Complete: Gazette No 1 (24th March 2016) [pdf, 0.2mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (26th May 2016)

Complete: Gazette No 2 (26th May 2016) [pdf, 0.3mb]

 

Gazette No 3 (19th December 2016)

Complete: Gazette No 3 (19th December 2016) [pdf, 0.3mb]

 

Gazette No 4 (22th December 2016)

Complete: Gazette No 4 (22th December 2016) [pdf, 0.3mb]

 

Guides to the Income Tax and Customs Ordinance.

Guide to the Income Tax Ordinance [pdf, 0.1mb]

Guide to the Customs Ordinance [pdf, 0.1mb]

These guides sets out in clear English what the Ordinance says. It is not a statement of law but it can help you to understand what the law of SGSSI is on this subject.

 

2015

Gazette No 1 (14th April 2015)

Notice 1: Appointment of Senior Magistrate
Notice 2: Appointment of Immigration Officers
Notice 3: Appointment of Immigration Officer

Complete: Gazette No 1 (14th April 2015) [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (14th May 2015)

Notice 4: Public Holidays 2016
Notice 5: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officer

Complete: Gazette No 2 (14th May 2015) [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

Gazette No 3 (18th June 2015)

Notice 6: Notification of income tax assessments

Complete: Gazette No 3 (18th June 2015) [pdf, 0.07mb]

 

Gazette No 4 (24th September 2015)

Notice 7: Appointment of Director of Fisheries
Notice 8: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officer
Notice 9: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

Complete: Gazette No 4 (24th September 2015) [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

Gazette No 5 (22th December 2015)

Notice 10: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

Complete: Gazette No 5 (22th December 2015) [pdf, 0.4mb]

 

 

 

 

Legislation 2010-2014

 

2014

Gazette No 1 (25th July 2014)

Notice 1: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 2: Appointment of Attorney General
Notice 3: Public Holidays 2015
Notice 4: Notification of amount of passenger landing fee
Notice 5: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 6: Appointment of Acting Registrar General
Notice 7: Appointment of Senior Magistrate

Complete: Gazette No 1 (25th July 2014) [pdf, 0.2mb]


Gazette No 2 (9 September 2014)

Complete: Gazette No 2 (9 September 2014) [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

2013

Gazette No 1 (7th May 2013)

Complete: Gazette No 1 (7th May 2013) [pdf, 0.1mb]

 

Gazette No 2 (13th June 2013)

Notice 1: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 2: Appointment of Registrar General
Notice 3: Enrolment of Police Officer
Notice 4: Enrolment of Police Officer
Notice 5: Public Holidays 2013
Notice 6: Public Holidays 2014
Notice 7: Notification of amount of passenger landing fee
Notice 8: Notification of fee for permits granted
Notice 9: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 10: Appointment of Financial Secretary

Complete: Gazette No 2 (13th June 2013) [pdf, 3.1mb]

 

2012

Gazette No 1 (29th February 2012)
Notice 1: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 2: Appointment of Senior Magistrate
Notice 3: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 4: Appointment of Registrar General
Notice 5: Appointment of Acting Financial Secretary

Complete: Gazette No 1 (29th February 2012) [pdf, 0.5mb]


Gazette No 2 (4th December 2012)

Notice 6: Public Holidays 2012
Notice 7: Public Holidays 2013
Notice 8: Notification of income tax assessments
Notice 9: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

Complete: Gazette No 2 (4th December 2012) [pdf, 0.2mb]

 

2011

Gazette No 1 (9th September 2011)

Notice 1: Appointment of Attorney General
Notice 2: Appointment of Acting Attorney General
Notice 3: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 4: Appointment of Fisheries Protection Officers
Notice 5: Notification of income tax assessments
Notice 6: United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
Notice 7: Notification of amount of passenger landing fee

Complete: Gazette No 1 (9th September 2011) [pdf, 0.4mb]

 

2010

Gazette No 1 (24 September 2010)
Notice 1: Notification of income tax assessments
Notice 2: Notification of amount of passenger landing fee

Complete: Gazette No 1 (24 September 2010)

Legislation 2005-2009

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

Legislation 2000-2004

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Legislation 1995-1999

 

1998

 

1997

 

1996

(*numbering error – these were the only Ordinances made in 1995 & 1996)

 

1995

(* numbering error – these were the only Ordinances made in 1995 & 1996)

 

 

Legislation 1990-1994

 

1994

 

1993

*1 - This Ordinance has been repealed and replaced by the Fisheries (Conservation & Management) Ordinance 2000.

*2 - This Commencement Notice is now spent.

 

1992

 

1990

 

Legislation 1980-1989

 

1989

 

1985

 

1981

 

1980

Legislation 1970-1979

 

1979

 

1978

 

1977

 

1975

 

1974

 

1973

 

1972

 

1971

 

1970

Legislation 1960-1969

 

1960

 

1961

 

1962

 

1963

 

1964

 

1965

 

1966

 

1967

 

1968

 

1969

Legislation 1951-1959

 

1951

 

1952

 

1953

 

1954

 

1955

 

1956

 

1958

 

1959

Ordinances Applied to South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands While It Was a Dependency of the Falkland Islands Between 1908 and 1950

 

(Scans taken from the "The Laws of the Colony of The Falkland Islands and its Dependencies").