Singapore firms acknowledge haze notices and pledge cooperation with NEA

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) has received acknowledgments from ten Singapore-based firms that were served notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. The companies, which include major palm oil and pulp-and-paper producers, said they will cooperate with the agency and provide the requested documentation on their Indonesian operations, fire-prevention measures and firefighting actions.

Two subsidiaries of Malaysian plantation group TSH Resources said on Oct. 26 that they are reviewing the notices and will engage with NEA. Other respondents included Asia Pulp & Paper, which pledged cooperation, Golden Agri-Resources' Singapore arm Golden Agri International, Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, Wilmar International and the TSH subsidiaries. Most firms indicated that they maintain zero-burning policies and attributed any fires to conditions outside their directly managed areas, such as severe drought linked to an El Niño event.

NEA issued the notices on Oct. 20, requesting details on land concessions, corporate links in Singapore and Indonesia, and fire-control efforts. Under Section 10 of the THPA, failure to comply can result in fines up to S$5,000, imprisonment for up to one month, or both, while companies found responsible for causing haze could face penalties of up to S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million. The agency emphasized that the issuance of a notice does not constitute a finding of liability.

The Singapore Exchange has urged listed companies to disclose any material information related to the notices to ensure orderly trading. The NEA's investigation aims to clarify the relationship between Singapore-registered firms and their Indonesian plantation activities and to assess steps taken to prevent and manage fires during the current dry season.