Singapore moves to tighten haze law as probes widen to 20 firms
What's new: officials want stronger cross-border powers after evidence and overseas cooperation hampered past enforcement.
Singapore is preparing to strengthen its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act and, if needed, add new measures as it broadens investigations into companies tied to the latest regional haze. Sustainability Minister Grace Fu said enforcement has been hindered by two main obstacles: collecting evidence across borders and getting overseas companies to cooperate. Authorities have served legal notices on at least 20 firms in Singapore and Indonesia. Ten Indonesian companies received Section 9 notices ordering preventive action on fires, while 10 Singapore-registered palm oil and forestry firms received Section 10 notices seeking documents for investigators. Singapore last used the law in 2015, but no company was sued or fined.
Sources
Earlier in this story
- 4 hours agoSingapore targets 10 local firms under haze law for first time
- 21 hours agoSingapore moves to tighten haze law as probes widen to 20 firmsreading now
- 25 hours agoExpert urges Indonesia to prioritize preventing wildfires
- 31 hours agoForest fires disrupt 3,030 flights, 78 airports stay open
- Oct 24Walhi counts 372 burned concessions, Singapore eyes 13 RI firms
- Oct 24Water bombing prepared to douse Gunung Ciremai wildfire
- Oct 24Forest and land fires expand to 16 regions, BNPB deploys 71,878 personnel
- Oct 23Government opens 491 oxygen care sites for haze
- Oct 23Haze cancels 2 Scoot flights on Palembang-Singapore route
- Oct 23BNPB channels foreign karhutla aid to equipment, technology
- Oct 22Jonan urges Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore to tackle fires together