Steps Taken to Prosecute Errant Companies that Caused Haze

Debated in Parliament on 28 Jan 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act provides the legal basis to investigate and prosecute any entity, whether local or foreign, that causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, defined as when the 24-hour PSI is at 101 or higher for a continuous 24-hour period.
During the 2015 haze, the National Environment Agency issued Preventive Measures Notices to six companies, requiring them to take specific actions to extinguish or prevent fires and submit action plans.
The agency also served a notice to Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd in Singapore to provide information on its subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia, and has received and is reviewing the submitted information.
Two companies have responded to the notices, while the other four have not, and the agency is corresponding with the responding companies and seeking assistance from Indonesian authorities to verify information.
Investigations are ongoing, and no further details can be disclosed at this time.

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Full Transcript

Christopher de Souza

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources what steps have been or are being taken under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to prosecute errant companies which have caused or contributed to the serious levels of hazardous haze pollution that Singapore experienced in 2015.

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M)

Mdm Speaker, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) came into force on 25 September 2014. The Act provides investigative tools and evidentiary provisions to allow for the prosecution of entities, whether in or outside Singapore, as well as persons holding positions of responsibility in these entities that are responsible for causing and contributing to transboundary haze pollution in Singapore. Under the THPA, haze pollution is said to have occurred if the 24-hour PSI remains at 101 or higher for 24 continuous hours or longer.

Haze pollution, as prescribed under the THPA, occurred for 10 periods from 10 September 2015 to 28 October 2015. During this entire period, NEA had sent Preventive Measures Notices pursuant to section 9 of the THPA to six companies, requesting them to carry out the following:

First, to deploy fire-fighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them.

Second, to discontinue, or not commence, any burning activities on such land.

Third, to submit to NEA any plan of action to extinguish any fire on such land or to prevent its recurrence.

In addition, NEA served Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd (APP) in Singapore a notice pursuant to section 10 of the THPA, seeking information from APP on its subsidiaries, its related companies and suppliers in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in these concessions.

Two companies have responded to the Preventive Measures Notices so far and we are corresponding with them, while the remaining companies have yet to respond. NEA also received information from APP following our earlier request for information. NEA is currently reviewing the information provided.

NEA has also written to its counterparts in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, to seek their assistance in verifying some of the information provided by the two companies which have earlier responded to our Preventive Measures Notices. As investigations are still on-going, more details cannot be divulged at this time.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act provides the legal basis to investigate and prosecute any entity, whether local or foreign, that causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, defined as when the 24-hour PSI is at 101 or higher for a continuous 24-hour period.
During the 2015 haze, the National Environment Agency issued Preventive Measures Notices to six companies, requiring them to take specific actions to extinguish or prevent fires and submit action plans.
The agency also served a notice to Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd in Singapore to provide information on its subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia, and has received and is reviewing the submitted information.
Two companies have responded to the notices, while the other four have not, and the agency is corresponding with the responding companies and seeking assistance from Indonesian authorities to verify information.
Investigations are ongoing, and no further details can be disclosed at this time.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Steps Taken to Prosecute Errant Companies that Caused Haze | PAPERCUTS

Steps Taken to Prosecute Errant Companies that Caused Haze

Debated in Parliament on 28 Jan 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act provides the legal basis to investigate and prosecute any entity, whether local or foreign, that causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, defined as when the 24-hour PSI is at 101 or higher for a continuous 24-hour period.
During the 2015 haze, the National Environment Agency issued Preventive Measures Notices to six companies, requiring them to take specific actions to extinguish or prevent fires and submit action plans.
The agency also served a notice to Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd in Singapore to provide information on its subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia, and has received and is reviewing the submitted information.
Two companies have responded to the notices, while the other four have not, and the agency is corresponding with the responding companies and seeking assistance from Indonesian authorities to verify information.
Investigations are ongoing, and no further details can be disclosed at this time.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Christopher de Souza

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M)

First, to deploy fire-fighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them.

Second, to discontinue, or not commence, any burning activities on such land.

Third, to submit to NEA any plan of action to extinguish any fire on such land or to prevent its recurrence.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act provides the legal basis to investigate and prosecute any entity, whether local or foreign, that causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, defined as when the 24-hour PSI is at 101 or higher for a continuous 24-hour period.
During the 2015 haze, the National Environment Agency issued Preventive Measures Notices to six companies, requiring them to take specific actions to extinguish or prevent fires and submit action plans.
The agency also served a notice to Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd in Singapore to provide information on its subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia, and has received and is reviewing the submitted information.
Two companies have responded to the notices, while the other four have not, and the agency is corresponding with the responding companies and seeking assistance from Indonesian authorities to verify information.
Investigations are ongoing, and no further details can be disclosed at this time.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Steps Taken to Prosecute Errant Companies that Caused Haze

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Christopher de Souza

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M)

Summary

Questions Identified

Steps Taken to Prosecute Errant Companies that Caused Haze

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Christopher de Souza

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M)

Summary

Questions Identified