Singapore passes tougher anti-haze laws, fines to increase 10 times against offenders

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Companies behind forest fires in Indonesia will face a fine up to US$780,000, as Singapore says it needs better ways to verify haze data

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Kolette Limin Singapore

Singapore’s parliament on Wednesday passed tougher penalties against companies responsible for forest fires in

Indonesia, including curbs on related business dealings, as the city state doubles down on enforcement following one of its worst haze episodes in more than a decade.

The amended Transboundary Pollution Haze Act will see penalties on such companies increase tenfold to a maximum fine of S$1 million (US$780,000) a day, capped at a total of S$20 million.

The Act has been invoked twice since its enactment in 2014, and no fine has been imposed so far. In 2015, Singapore issued notices to six companies, with two cases closed and four ongoing. Last month, the city state issued notices to 10 Singapore-based companies to seek documents and information related to the latest forest fires.

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