Singapore authorities have issued new restrictions and legal notices to several companies linked to forest fires contributing to the transboundary haze affecting the region. Among the companies targeted is Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a major pulp and paper producer with a history of involvement in haze episodes, notably the severe haze in 2015.
On October 19, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) announced a Notice of Temporary Restrictions on APP’s green certification under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS+). This action follows evidence that fires originating from the land managed by APP’s suppliers are contributing to the current haze. The suppliers named are Bumi Mekar Hijau, Bumi Andalas Permai, and Sebangun Bumi Andalas (SBA) Wood Industries, all operating concessions in South Sumatra, Indonesia. These suppliers have already received legal notices from Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) requiring them to stop burning activities and submit fire prevention and suppression plans.
Under the SEC’s notice, APP must provide daily reports on fire response efforts and demonstrate effective fire prevention measures within supplier-managed areas. Failure to comply could lead to suspension of the SGLS+ certification and the prohibition of using the associated green label on APP’s products. The SGLS+ certification, which commenced in 2017, requires certified firms to improve peatland management, conduct daily fire danger assessments, invest in firefighting equipment, and pledge zero-burning on their plantations. This certification aims to promote environmentally responsible products to consumers by ensuring sustainable sourcing and manufacturing.
In addition to the three suppliers mentioned, a fourth supplier to APP, Buana Megatama Jaya, also received a legal notice under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) on October 19. Buana Megatama Jaya operates pulp plantations in Indonesia. Alongside it, two other companies—Mananjung Hayak, a palm oil plantation, and Baratama Putra Perkasa, a pulp plantation—were also issued notices, bringing to ten the total number of firms currently targeted under the THPA. The NEA cited satellite imagery and meteorological data showing that smoke from fires on their concessions, including from Kalimantan, has reached Singapore.
The preventive notices direct these companies to deploy firefighting resources, cease any burning activities, and submit action plans to extinguish existing fires and prevent future outbreaks. Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu emphasized that the government continues to monitor all identified companies and has not yet received compliance updates from them. She reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to pursuing all companies found responsible for haze pollution under the THPA and to sharing evidence with appropriate agencies for further investigation.
Notably, among the ten companies, four suppliers to APP—Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau, SBA Wood Industries, and Buana Megatama Jaya—had previously been issued similar notices during the 2015 haze crisis, with cases remaining unresolved. The ongoing legal and certification proceedings underscore Singapore’s intensified efforts to address the recurring haze problem, involving both environmental certification enforcement and statutory measures against companies contributing to land fires beyond its borders.