Singapore Seeks Stronger Haze Rules as Cross-Border Loopholes and Corporate Stonewalling Undermine Enforcement
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Singapore says it wants to toughen its haze law after officials said cross-border evidence gathering and corporate noncooperation are weakening accountability for environmental harm.
Singapore is considering amendments to its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to close enforcement gaps, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Oct. 27. She identified two main obstacles that have long frustrated accountability: collecting evidence across borders and obtaining cooperation from companies that operate outside Singapore.
Fu explained that Section 9 of the law compels firms to take preventive action against fires, while Section 10 requires companies to provide information for investigations. The government has already issued notices to ten Indonesian firms under Section 9 and to ten Singapore-registered firms in the palm-oil and forestry sectors under Section 10.
"Our enforcement framework should not allow a company to frustrate an investigation simply by refusing to cooperate or remaining outside Singapore," Fu said, adding that Singapore remains willing to work with Indonesian authorities on accountability measures.
The minister noted that verifying documents supplied by overseas firms is often difficult because corporate structures and supply chains span multiple jurisdictions, creating exactly the kind of opacity that can shield polluters. To address this, the government announced on Oct. 23 the formation of a specialist panel of law, audit and investigative firms to assist with cross-border inquiries.
Fu said the review of the haze law could lead to amendments or new legislation and that other regulatory and economic tools would also be explored. She pointed to recent Section 10 notices, saying they have prompted companies to respond publicly and that investors, financiers, customers and the public increasingly expect responsible environmental practices rather than evasive behavior.
The Straits Times reported that all ten Singapore firms acknowledged the information requests, with most indicating willingness to cooperate. Two of the firms are linked to Asia Pulp & Paper, whose suppliers were previously connected to haze-related fires. The Singapore Environment Council has also increased monitoring and may suspend its green label for companies that cannot demonstrate effective fire-prevention measures.