SINGAPORE — Singapore is studying ways to tighten its existing anti-haze legislation and will introduce new laws where necessary, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday (October 27).

“The objective is to address enforcement gaps, strengthen corporate accountability, and enhance our ability to investigate and take decisive action against those responsible for transboundary haze,” she said.

“We are also prepared to use a wider range of legal, regulatory and economic measures,” said Fu at the Sustainable Procurement Forum held by the Singapore Environment Council.

Addressing the recent haze arising from forest and land fires in Indonesia, the minister stressed that companies must be responsible for the environmental impact of their operations and supply chains.

Ten Singapore-registered palm oil or forestry companies with associated land concessions in Indonesia were issued notices under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) on October 23.

The Act requires companies to provide information on their linkages with associated firms, their land concessions, as well as fire preventive measures and/or any firefighting efforts taken by them and/or their associated companies in Indonesia.