Singapore passes haze law with 10-fold jump in max fine
Why it matters: The changes let authorities act before smoke reaches Singapore and restrict business ties with linked firms.
Singapore's Parliament passed tougher transboundary haze rules on Wednesday, lifting the maximum fine for the main offense to S$20 million from S$2 million after the city-state's worst haze spell since 2015. The amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act also give authorities broader powers to investigate companies tied to overseas fires, order expert assessments and curb business dealings with errant entities. The law can now be used when there is a risk of haze reaching Singapore, not only after polluted air has already persisted. The National Environment Agency said Singapore saw haze from Sept. 4 to Oct. 25, with air quality in the unhealthy range on 33 days and very unhealthy on five days.