Enhanced haze law 'not a silver bullet', international cooperation remains crucial: Grace Fu

The Transboundary Haze Pollution (Amendment) Bill was passed unanimously after a debate that lasted about six hours and involved 24 MPs.

A view of the haze from Chinatown on the afternoon of Oct 23, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

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SINGAPORE: The enhancements to Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) are not a silver bullet for tackling haze pollution, and international cooperation remains crucial, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Wednesday (Nov 4).

In closing the debate in parliament on the Bill, Ms Fu addressed a range of concerns from Members of Parliament, including how the expanded powers would be exercised and their potential impact on businesses.

A total of 24 MPs – 14 from the People's Action Party (PAP), seven from the Workers' Party (WP) and three Nominated MPs – sought clarifications about the proposed changes to the law.

“The THPA is not a silver bullet. It is one of many tools we must use to address the transboundary haze situation,” she said of the law that first came into force in 2014.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The Bill was passed unanimously after a debate that lasted about six hours. Ms Fu said that even with the expanded powers in the legislation, Singapore can expect challenges in exercising them. However, the government is committed to doing what it can within its powers to reduce incentives for unsustainable forestry and agricultural practices, she added. “I emphasise that in doing so, the realities require us to accept the limitations of our laws and our agencies’ reach on conduct outside of Singapore,” said Ms Fu. “We seek to work collectively with foreign agencies. Our law enforcement powers do not extend into other countries' borders, and we respect the laws and sovereignty of every state, just like how we would not accept foreign laws infringing on our sovereignty.” MEASURED AND TARGETED POWERS In her closing speech, Ms Fu assured MPs that the National Environment Agency (NEA) will implement its expanded powers in a “measured and targeted” manner. Addressing MPs who asked for more details on how the assessment and designation process will work, she explained the criteria for issuing directions to appoint assessors. These will apply to three categories of entities – those who have been convicted of an offence or fail to comply with actions under the Act, those that are known to or suspected to have had business dealings with entities in the first category, and those that are known to or suspected to be “sufficiently related” to entities in the other two categories. “We will be measured and targeted in who we issue these directions to. The goal is to ensure that we have the means to assess the risks posed by entities operating in sectors or industries that tend to contribute to haze pollution in Singapore,” said Ms Fu. The government will also be clear about what assessors need to do and how they will work with the identified entities, with detailed rules to be set up in subsidiary legislation, she added. Depending on the results, NEA may direct the company to take remedial action, publicise that it received an adverse or qualified report, prosecute it for an offence, designate it or put the entity on notice, said Ms Fu. She also confirmed that the proposed amendments would not override legal advice or litigation privilege. Among the MPs who raised the issue of proportionality in enforcement was MP Jessica Tan (PAP-East Coast), who asked the minister about the safeguards to ensure fairness. "Prevention must be swift, but accuracy matters too," she said, while asking Ms Fu how haze risk will be assessed. This is especially significant as it may affect Singapore's commercial relationships, financing arrangements and business operations, added Ms Tan.

The Bill was passed unanimously after a debate that lasted about six hours.

Ms Fu said that even with the expanded powers in the legislation, Singapore can expect challenges in exercising them. However, the government is committed to doing what it can within its powers to reduce incentives for unsustainable forestry and agricultural practices, she added.

“I emphasise that in doing so, the realities require us to accept the limitations of our laws and our agencies’ reach on conduct outside of Singapore,” said Ms Fu.

“We seek to work collectively with foreign agencies. Our law enforcement powers do not extend into other countries' borders, and we respect the laws and sovereignty of every state, just like how we would not accept foreign laws infringing on our sovereignty.”

MEASURED AND TARGETED POWERS

In her closing speech, Ms Fu assured MPs that the National Environment Agency (NEA) will implement its expanded powers in a “measured and targeted” manner.

Addressing MPs who asked for more details on how the assessment and designation process will work, she explained the criteria for issuing directions to appoint assessors.

These will apply to three categories of entities – those who have been convicted of an offence or fail to comply with actions under the Act, those that are known to or suspected to have had business dealings with entities in the first category, and those that are known to or suspected to be “sufficiently related” to entities in the other two categories.

“We will be measured and targeted in who we issue these directions to. The goal is to ensure that we have the means to assess the risks posed by entities operating in sectors or industries that tend to contribute to haze pollution in Singapore,” said Ms Fu.

The government will also be clear about what assessors need to do and how they will work with the identified entities, with detailed rules to be set up in subsidiary legislation, she added.

Depending on the results, NEA may direct the company to take remedial action, publicise that it received an adverse or qualified report, prosecute it for an offence, designate it or put the entity on notice, said Ms Fu.

She also confirmed that the proposed amendments would not override legal advice or litigation privilege.

Among the MPs who raised the issue of proportionality in enforcement was MP Jessica Tan (PAP-East Coast), who asked the minister about the safeguards to ensure fairness.

"Prevention must be swift, but accuracy matters too," she said, while asking Ms Fu how haze risk will be assessed.

This is especially significant as it may affect Singapore's commercial relationships, financing arrangements and business operations, added Ms Tan.

Shanmugam explains why private firm appointed legal coordinator

A private legal firm was appointed as the coordinator for Singapore's anti-haze probes, instead of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), as it can go into a foreign jurisdiction, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said on Wednesday.

He was responding to a question from MP Sylvia Lim (WP-Aljunied) on why the AGC was not tasked with the coordinating role, despite having a division devoted to international affairs.

"The answer is very simple. They may not be able to exercise their powers in a foreign jurisdiction because they would be treated as Singapore government agencies, and it's quite likely that they would not even be given access to the country, let alone conduct investigations," said Mr Shanmugam, who chairs the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee.

“So it had to be structured as the companies appointing private firms to do the work – investigative firms, law firms, and others are now the companies' appointees, and therefore they will have the ability to go into foreign jurisdictions.”

Law firm Davinder Singh Chambers has been appointed to advise on coordinating the work to make sure the necessary inquiries and investigations are properly conducted across different jurisdictions.

"Countries may still find excuses for not allowing them, but it is less likely that they will be prevented from accessing foreign jurisdictions," said Mr Shanmugam, who is coordinating minister for national security.

The government had to think about this carefully, and structure it “very carefully and quite elegantly”, so as to avoid issues relating to other countries, he added.

Mr Shanmugam, who is also home affairs minister, said the assessors' reports would be made available to government agencies, and the AGC would look at them to see what further actions can be taken in Singapore.

Ms Lim also asked about who will foot the bill for the coordinating law firm.

In response, Mr Shanmugam said that it would be paid for by the companies under investigation, as it is "treated as doing the work on behalf of all the companies".

"It is only right that the taxpayers ought not to be paying for it. It ought to be paid by the companies, and provision has been made for that," he said.

COMPLIANCE COSTS FOR BUSINESSES

MPs also asked about compliance costs for businesses. Among those who raised the issue was MP Lee Hong Chuang (PAP-Jurong East-Bukit Batok), who said that while he supported the proposed stronger powers, they must not place undue burden on Singapore businesses that have done nothing wrong.

He noted, for instance, that a Singapore trader or food manufacturer could be "several steps removed" from those responsible for the fires.

Responding to MPs' concerns that the amendments could impose an undue burden on smaller companies, Ms Fu said the government will seek to minimise compliance costs for small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs).

Businesses will not be penalised if they did not know, or had no reason to believe, that they were dealing with a designated entity, she said.

With designations, the government will be judicious in determining the scope of business restrictions, she added. It will also provide reasonable transition arrangements where appropriate to minimise unnecessary disruptions to legitimate business activities.

“Our measures are targeted at entities responsible for causing or contributing to the haze, while avoiding onerous obligations for businesses operating legitimately and responsibly," Ms Fu said.

She added that the changes will be implemented “carefully and proportionately”, and that NEA will continue working with other agencies, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to effectively implement them.

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经过大约六个小时的辩论，24名议员参与了辩论，《跨境烟霾污染（修正）法案》获得一致通过。

2026年10月23日下午，从唐人街看到的雾霾景象。（图片：CNA/Ooi Boon Keong）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周三（11月4日）表示，新加坡《跨境烟霾污染法》（THPA）的加强措施并不能彻底解决烟霾污染问题，国际合作仍然至关重要。

在议会就该法案进行辩论的最后阶段，傅女士回应了议员们提出的一系列关切，包括扩大后的权力将如何行使以及其对企业的潜在影响。

共有 24 名国会议员——其中 14 名来自人民行动党 (PAP)，7 名来自工人党 (WP)，3 名是委任国会议员——就拟议的法律变更寻求澄清。

“《跨境雾霾保护法》并非万能灵药，而是我们应对跨境雾霾问题的众多工具之一，”她谈到这项于 2014 年首次生效的法律时说道。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 该法案在经过约六个小时的辩论后获得一致通过。傅女士表示，即使立法扩大了权力，新加坡在行使这些权力时仍会面临挑战。但她补充说，政府致力于在其权限范围内尽一切努力，减少不可持续的林业和农业做法的激励因素。傅女士说：“我强调，这样做，现实情况要求我们接受法律的局限性以及我们机构对新加坡境外行为的管辖范围。我们寻求与外国机构合作。我们的执法权不延伸到其他国家的边界​​，我们尊重每个国家的法律和主权，就像我们不会接受外国法律侵犯我们的主权一样。”审慎且有针对性的权力 傅海燕女士在闭幕致辞中向议员们保证，国家环境局（NEA）将以“审慎且有针对性”的方式行使扩大后的权力。针对议员们提出的关于评估和指定流程的更多细节要求，她解释了发出委任评估员指令的标准。这些标准将适用于三类实体：已被定罪或未遵守《环境法》规定的实体；已知或涉嫌与第一类实体有业务往来的实体；以及已知或涉嫌与后两类实体“有充分关联”的实体。傅海燕女士表示：“我们将审慎且有针对性地发出这些指令。我们的目标是确保我们有能力评估在新加坡雾霾污染易发行业或领域运营的实体所带来的风险。”她补充说，政府还将明确评估人员需要做什么，以及如何与被认定的实体合作，具体规则将在附属立法中制定。傅女士表示，根据评估结果，国家环境局可能会指示公司采取补救措施，公布其收到的不利或有保留意见的报告，对其提起诉讼，对其进行指定或发出通知。她还确认，拟议的修正案不会凌驾于法律咨询或诉讼特权之上。提出执法比例原则问题的议员中，包括人民行动党东海岸选区议员陈慧珊，她询问部长有哪些保障措施可以确保公平。“预防必须迅速，但准确性也很重要，”她说道，同时询问傅女士将如何评估雾霾风险。陈女士补充说，这一点尤为重要，因为它可能会影响新加坡的商业关系、融资安排和业务运营。

经过大约六个小时的辩论，该法案获得一致通过。

傅女士表示，即使立法赋予了新加坡更大的权力，在行使这些权力时仍可能面临挑战。但她补充说，政府致力于在其权限范围内尽一切努力，减少不可持续的林业和农业做法的诱因。

傅女士说：“我强调，这样做，现实情况要求我们接受我国法律和机构对新加坡境外行为管辖权的局限性。”

“我们寻求与外国机构开展合作。我们的执法权力不会延伸到其他国家的边界​​，我们尊重每个国家的法律和主权，就像我们不会接受外国法律侵犯我们的主权一样。”

可测量和可定位的功率

傅女士在闭幕致辞中向议员们保证，国家环境局（NEA）将以“有条不紊、有针对性”的方式行使扩大后的权力。

针对议员们要求提供评估和指定流程的更多细节，她解释了发出任命评估员指令的标准。

这些规定将适用于三类实体——被判犯有罪行或未能遵守该法案规定的实体；已知或怀疑与第一类实体有业务往来的实体；以及已知或怀疑与另外两类实体“有充分关联”的实体。

傅女士表示：“我们将谨慎且有针对性地发布这些指令。目标是确保我们有能力评估在新加坡容易造成雾霾污染的行业或领域运营的实体所带来的风险。”

她补充说，政府还将明确评估人员需要做什么以及他们将如何与已确定的实体合作，详细的规则将在附属立法中制定。

傅女士表示，根据调查结果，国家环境局可能会指示该公司采取补救措施，公布收到不利或有保留意见的报告，对其提起诉讼，指定其为违规实体，或向该实体发出通知。

她还确认，拟议的修正案不会凌驾于法律咨询或诉讼特权之上。

提出执法比例问题的议员中，有一位是人民行动党东海岸选区的议员陈慧珊，她询问部长有哪些保障措施可以确保公平。

“预防必须迅速，但准确性也很重要，”她说道，同时询问傅女士将如何评估雾霾风险。

谭女士补充说，这一点尤其重要，因为它可能会影响新加坡的商业关系、融资安排和业务运营。

Shanmugam解释了为什么私人公司会任命法律协调员

新加坡高级部长尚穆根周三表示，已指定一家私人律师事务所担任新加坡反雾霾调查的协调机构，而不是总检察署（AGC），因为私人律师事务所可以进入外国司法管辖区。

他是在回应国会议员林瑞莲（工人党-阿裕尼选区）提出的问题，即尽管总检察署设有专门负责国际事务的部门，为什么没有赋予总检察署协调角色。

“答案很简单。他们可能无法在外国司法管辖区行使权力，因为他们会被视为新加坡政府机构，而且他们很可能甚至不会被允许进入该国，更不用说进行调查了，”国土危机部长级委员会主席尚穆根先生说。

“因此，必须将其结构调整为：由公司委任私营公司来完成这项工作——调查公司、律师事务所和其他公司现在都是公司的委任方，因此它们将有能力进入外国司法管辖区。”

已委任 Davinder Singh Chambers 律师事务所为协调相关工作提供咨询，以确保在不同司法管辖区内妥善开展必要的调查和取证工作。

“各国或许还会找借口不允许他们入境，但他们不太可能被阻止进入外国司法管辖区，”国家安全统筹部长尚穆根先生说。

他补充说，政府必须认真考虑这个问题，并“非常仔细、相当巧妙地”制定方案，以避免与其他国家产生问题。

尚穆根先生同时也是内政部长，他表示评估报告将提供给政府机构，总检察署将审查这些报告，以决定新加坡可以采取哪些进一步行动。

林女士还询问谁将支付协调律师事务所的费用。

对此，尚穆根先生表示，费用将由被调查的公司支付，因为这项工作“被视为代表所有公司开展”。

他说：“纳税人不应该为此买单，这才是合理的。这笔费用应该由企业承担，而且已经为此做出了安排。”

企业合规成本

议员们还询问了企业的合规成本。提出这一问题的议员包括人民行动党裕廊东-武吉巴督选区的李鸿昌议员，他表示，虽然他支持赋予监管机构更大的权力，但这些权力不应给没有做错任何事的的新加坡企业带来不必要的负担。

他举例指出，新加坡的贸易商或食品制造商可能与造成火灾的责任人“隔了好几层关系”。

针对议员们对修订案可能给小型企业带来过重负担的担忧，傅女士表示，政府将努力降低中小企业的合规成本。

她表示，如果企业不知道或没有理由相信自己是在与指定实体进行交易，则不会受到处罚。

她补充说，政府在做出相关认定后，将谨慎地确定商业限制的范围。政府还将在适当情况下提供合理的过渡安排，以最大程度地减少对合法商业活动的干扰。

傅女士表示：“我们的措施针对的是造成或助长雾霾的实体，同时避免给合法、负责任经营的企业施加繁重的义务。”

她补充说，这些变革将“谨慎而适度地”实施，国家环境局将继续与其他机构（包括新加坡金融管理局）合作，以有效实施这些变革。

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