Singapore haze: SEC imposes temporary restrictions on Asia Pulp & Paper, mandates daily fire reports

Indonesian paper Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has been placed under temporary green certification restrictions by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC).

The firm, which is behind household tissue and paper towel brand Paseo, was issued a notice of temporary restrictions on its enhanced Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS+) on Oct 18, after three of its wood-fibre suppliers were linked to ongoing wildfires in Indonesia that have blanketed several Southeast Asian nations in hazardous haze.

SEC said in a statement on Monday (Oct 19) that they take a serious view of the harmful impact of haze on the health of people in Singapore and the wider region, as well as on the environment.

Under the notice, APP is required to provide daily fire response reporting and strict monitoring to ensure effective fire prevention and suppression, for the concession areas managed by PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas (SBA) Wood Industries.

The three firms are among seven entities issued with Preventive Measure Notices under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act on Oct 16.

SEC's SGLS+ certification for pulp and paper products was launched in 2017, two years after the severe regional haze episode in 2015.

It incorporated requirements to reduce fire risks on agroforestry plantations, including sustainable peatland management, robust fire prevention, and strict zero-burning compliance throughout the supply chain.

According to SEC, about 58 pulp and paper products, such as printing paper and hygiene paper, are now certified under the scheme.

The council stated that if APP's additional reporting does not demonstrate that strengthened monitoring, fire prevention and suppression measures are implemented effectively, its SGLS+ certificate may be suspended.

This means that it will not be able to use the SGLS+ logo on products associated with the certification.

And while non-SGLS+ products are not banned from being sold, major local supermarket chains and retailers are known to have pulled such products from shelves when manufacturers loses or fails to achieve the certification.

SEC said it has also asked SGLS+ certified companies to check their supply chains and declare whether they source or purchase wood, paper, and pulp products from any of the entities served with the prevention measure notices.

A total of ten Indonesian firms — seven on Oct 16 , and another three on Oct 19 — have since been served with Preventive Measure Notices.

The council also reminded consumers that their daily purchasing decisions can influence companies' environmental practices, and that they can make a difference by choosing products carefully by looking for the Singapore Green Label where applicable.

印尼纸业公司亚洲浆纸业（APP）已被新加坡环境理事会（SEC）暂时限制绿色认证。

该公司旗下拥有家用纸巾和厨房纸巾品牌 Paseo，10 月 18 日，该公司收到新加坡绿色标签计划 (SGLS+) 的临时限制通知，原因是其三家木纤维供应商与印度尼西亚持续发生的野火有关，这些野火已使东南亚多个国家笼罩在有害的烟霾之中。

新加坡证券交易委员会（SEC）周一（10月19日）发表声明称，他们非常重视雾霾对新加坡及周边地区人民健康以及环境造成的有害影响。

根据该通知，APP 需要提供每日火灾响应报告和严格监控，以确保有效预防和扑灭由 PT Bumi Mekar Hijau、PT Bumi Andalas Permai 和 PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas (SBA) Wood Industries 管理的特许经营区域的火灾。

这三家公司是新加坡于 10 月 16 日根据《跨境烟霾污染法》收到预防措施通知的七个实体之一。

美国证券交易委员会 (SEC) 的纸浆和纸制品 SGLS+ 认证于 2017 年推出，此前两年，2015 年发生了严重的区域性雾霾事件。

它纳入了降低农林业种植园火灾风险的要求，包括可持续的泥炭地管理、强有力的防火措施以及在整个供应链中严格遵守零燃烧规定。

据美国证券交易委员会称，目前已有约 58 种纸浆和纸制品（如印刷用纸和卫生用纸）根据该计划获得认证。

委员会表示，如果APP的补充报告未能证明加强监测、防火和灭火措施得到有效实施，其SGLS+证书可能会被暂停。

这意味着它将无法在与该认证相关的产品上使用 SGLS+ 标志。

虽然没有 SGLS+ 认证的产品并未被禁止销售，但众所周知，当制造商失去或未能获得认证时，当地大型连锁超市和零售商会将此类产品下架。

美国证券交易委员会表示，已要求获得SGLS+认证的公司检查其供应链，并申报是否从任何收到防疫措施通知的实体采购或购买木材、纸张和纸浆产品。

截至目前，共有十家印尼公司——10 月 16 日七家，10 月 19 日又三家——收到了预防措施通知。

该委员会还提醒消费者，他们的日常购买决定会影响公司的环保做法，他们可以通过仔细选择产品（例如，在适用情况下寻找新加坡绿色标签）来做出贡献。