Government weighs need to amend laws amidst haze investigation hurdles

It is assessing the adequacy of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

Singapore is facing challenges investigating overseas firms linked to the transboundary haze and verifying evidence across borders, said Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.

The government is looking to strengthen existing legislation, including the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, and will introduce amendments or new laws where necessary, Fu said in her speech at the SEC Sustainable Procurement Forum.

Fu said enforcement is complicated by difficulties serving notices on overseas companies and securing compliance when they refuse to cooperate and have no officers in Singapore.

Investigations also require authorities to establish land ownership, trace corporate relationships, and verify fire prevention and suppression measures, much of which may involve information held overseas.

Singapore remains open to working with Indonesian authorities to hold responsible companies accountable, she added.

“The haze is preventable and unacceptable. Companies must take responsibility for the environmental impact of their operations and supply chains,” Fu said.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued preventive measure notices under Section 9 of the act to 10 companies in Indonesia linked to the haze, requiring them to fight fires, stop burning, and prevent recurrence.

NEA has also served Section 10 notices on Singapore-registered palm oil and forestry companies with land concessions in Indonesia, or related companies with such concessions.

The government has also established a specialist panel comprising law, audit, and investigative firms to examine identified companies’ operations, corporate relationships, and supply chains.

Singapore is also prepared to deploy a wider range of legal, regulatory, and economic measures, alongside scrutiny from investors, financiers, and the market. Fu said such scrutiny had already prompted companies to respond publicly.

Separately, the Singapore Environment Council has stepped up monitoring under its certification scheme during the recent haze, introducing additional reporting and supply-chain checks.

Fu said credible certification schemes could help hold companies accountable to the environmental standards they claim to uphold.

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