Singapore considers strengthening Transboundary Haze Pollution Act

The Singapore government is considering strengthening the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to better hold entities accountable for forest and land fires in Indonesia. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu noted that current enforcement faces significant challenges, particularly regarding jurisdictional limits and the difficulty of collecting evidence from companies operating outside Singapore.

To improve investigations, authorities must prove detailed corporate and operational links, including land ownership and inter-company structures. However, Singaporean authorities cannot enter foreign jurisdictions to collect evidence without local government approval, making independent verification of documents provided by foreign companies difficult.

In a related development, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued official notices to several companies in the palm oil, pulp, and paper sectors regarding recent transboundary haze. These companies, some of which have operational concessions in Indonesia, are being required to provide information and take preventive measures. While some companies have reported hotspots in their concession areas, they have stated that internal inspections show their operations did not contribute to the haze.