Singapore expands crackdown on Indonesian companies linked to haze
Authorities are examining links to haze-causing fires and financing risks as they press companies to cooperate and face possible legal action.
- On October 16 and 19, Singapore's National Environment Agency issued preventive notices to 10 Indonesian companies, requiring them to deploy firefighters and cease burning under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.
- Prolonged dry weather and a strong El Niño have worsened plantation fires in Indonesia, driving Singapore into its 17th consecutive day of unhealthy air quality—the longest stretch since the 2015 haze crisis.
- Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam warned that the smog is "entirely preventable," vowing to use "every legal and regulatory lever" to hold companies accountable for fire-prevention failures.
- The Singapore Environment Council placed temporary restrictions on Asia Pulp and Paper's green certification, requiring daily fire-prevention reports after three of its suppliers were linked to regional haze.
- Authorities have deployed N95 mask vending machines for vulnerable residents, while the Ministry of Health advises using 1-hour PM2.5 readings to determine if outdoor activities are safe.
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South China Morning Post
PressNewsAgencyDoes Singapore’s tougher stance on haze mark an inflection point?
Singapore has warned it will go after companies responsible for the forest fires in Indonesia causing the regional haze, but cross-border challenges remain stumbling blocks to solving a problem that has plagued the city state for decades. Analysts point to long-standing obstacles hampering the country’s decade-old haze legislation, such as complex corporate ownership and opaque transboundary supply chains. To date, no company has been prosecuted…
'They may think that they can escape scrutiny': Singapore cracks down on Indonesian companies spreading 'entirely preventable' smog across the border
This brings to 10 the number of Indonesian companies that Singapore is targeting under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.
The city-state has stepped up measures to combat fires, which have been going on for months, and has promised to take legal action against the companies responsible for the fires, which have placed air quality in the region among the worst in the world. Air pollution has forced the closure of schools in several countries of the region and has led to an increase in respiratory problems among the population. "Our research suggests that some of the…
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