Minister Grace Fu on strengthening laws to tackle transboundary haze pollution

The recent episode of severe haze in Singapore has shown that “the status quo is not tenable” and the country’s laws against transboundary haze need to be strengthened, Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu told parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4). She said Singapore needs better ways to establish responsibility, impose meaningful consequences on errant entities and intervene before haze pollution reaches Singapore. At the same time, the problem is complex and Singapore’s ability to act against those responsible will remain constrained by the limits of its jurisdiction, she noted. Ms Fu laid out the urgent action the government is proposing, including a fundamental change in its approach to investigations and enforcement. The main measures – requiring entities with suspected links to haze pollution in Singapore to appoint expert private sector assessors; enabling the government to designate entities or individuals linked to haze offences and impose orders to restrict business dealings with them; putting large firms on notice over haze-linked supply chains; publicising lists of non-compliant entities; enabling legal documents to be served electronically and giving officers the power of arrest in Singapore; increasing the fine for causing or contributing to fires posing a risk of haze from S$100,000 to S$1 million a day, and the maximum aggregate fine from S$2 million to S$20 million; and, given the challenges of gathering evidence outside Singapore, introducing a civil penalty framework with a maximum penalty of S$10 million. Follow our live blog: https://cna.asia/4AbLKJ0