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Singapore

Singapore passes amendments strengthening transboundary haze law with higher fines and investigative powers

Tougher penalties and expanded enforcement powers could affect businesses with links to cross-border haze, including supply chains and commercial arrangements.

Photo: Head Topics

What happened

Singapore's Parliament passed amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act on November 4, 2026, after a debate of about six hours involving 24 Members of Parliament. The Business Times+4 The amendments give the government greater powers to gather information from companies suspected of being responsible for haze, investigate their commercial links and impose restrictions on them. The Business Times+2 The maximum fine for the main offence rises tenfold from S$2 million to S$20 million, and the daily fine for causing or contributing to fires that risk haze rises from S$100,000 to S$1 million. The Business Times+2 The changes also allow for arrests in Singapore and remove legal barriers to enforcement in line with international law. Yahoo Finance+1 The amendments follow Singapore's most severe haze episode since 2015, which disrupted daily activities and wildfires in Indonesia. Yahoo Finance+2

Around it

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the status quo was not tenable and that the enhancements are not a silver bullet, with international cooperation remaining crucial. Yahoo Finance+1 Enforcement under the 2014 Act had been hindered by jurisdictional barriers and difficulty obtaining evidence from overseas. France 24 Investigations remain open into four companies issued legal notices under the Act in 2015, and three of these firms have also been implicated in the 2026 haze episode, according to Fu. The Straits Times

What comes next

The authorities will continue their probe into the current haze case, and the past actions of the implicated firms will be considered in that investigation. The Straits Times

Sources

  1. The Business TimesSingapore strengthens transboundary haze law with expanded investigative powers, stiffer penalties
  2. Yahoo FinanceSingapore changes haze law to include arrests, heavier fines
  3. France 24Singapore toughens haze law with arrest powers, bigger fines
  4. Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment2nd Reading of the Transboundary Haze Pollution (Amendment) Bill
  5. Head TopicsEnhanced haze law 'not a silver bullet', international cooperation remains crucial: Grace Fu
  6. Media SelangorSingapore strengthens haze law with higher fines, tougher enforcement
  7. The Straits TimesMPs raise questions on $20m fine, delay in strengthening haze law, in six-hour debate
  8. nea.gov.sgSingapore To Strengthen Transboundary Haze Pollution Act With Tougher Penalties And Expanded Enforcement Powers

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