Key Takeaways
- • Wilmar International, Bumitama Agri and First Resources have confirmed in Singapore Exchange filings that they received notices under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act and intend to comply with the National Environment Agency's information requests.
- • The NEA issued notices on Oct 23, 2026 to 10 Singapore-based oil palm and forestry firms, seeking details on links to associated firms, land concessions in Indonesia, and fire prevention and firefighting efforts.
- • Non-compliant representatives face a fine of up to $5,000, a jail term of up to one month, or both, while entities found guilty of causing haze can be fined up to $100,000 per day, capped at $2 million.
- • Seven of the 10 firms, including Asia Pulp & Paper, Golden Agri International and Indofood Agri Resources, had not responded to requests for comment as of Oct 24.
- • The move marks an escalation of Singapore's efforts against companies linked to transboundary haze, following earlier notices to Indonesian firms.
Summary
Three of the 10 Singapore-based companies that received legal notices under the Republic's haze law have said they will cooperate with authorities' requests for information on their links to fires in Indonesia. As of 2pm on Oct 24, 2026, Wilmar International, Bumitama Agri and First Resources had declared in Singapore Exchange filings that they received the notices and intend to comply, according to the report by The Straits Times.
Wilmar International was the first to announce its plan to comply, close to midnight on Oct 23, about three hours after the National Environment Agency (NEA) first announced it had issued the notices. A Wilmar spokesperson later told The Straits Times that the company is working to provide the relevant documents and information and will provide updates on material developments. First Resources said in a filing at 1.15am on Oct 24 that it had agreed to provide the necessary details, signed off by secretary Victor Lai Kuan Loong. Bumitama Agri and its subsidiaries said in a filing at 1.15pm the same day that they will provide the requested documents to the NEA, signed off by executive chairman and chief executive Lim Gunawan Hariyanto.
The NEA announced at 9pm on Oct 23 that it had issued notices against the 10 firms under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA). The agency is seeking comprehensive details on links to associated firms, information on land concessions, fire prevention measures, and active firefighting efforts on the ground. The 10 firms either own land concessions in Indonesia or have related companies that do. All operate in the oil palm or forestry sectors. The seven companies that have not responded to requests for comment are Asia Pulp & Paper Company, Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China), Golden Agri International, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea.
Representatives of non-compliant firms face a fine of up to $5,000, a jail term of up to one month, or both. Entities found guilty of causing or contributing to haze can be fined up to $100,000 for every day the pollution persists, capped at $2 million. The latest notices follow earlier preventive measures notices under Section 9 of the THPA, issued to seven Sumatra-based pulpwood companies on Oct 16 and three Kalimantan firms on Oct 19. Those Section 9 notices carry no penalty for non-compliance. Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Oct 19 that errant firms would no longer be allowed to hide behind complex corporate structures or geographical borders, and that Singapore would use "every legal and regulatory lever" to confront them.
Wilmar International was the first to announce its plan to comply, close to midnight on Oct 23, about three hours after the National Environment Agency (NEA) first announced it had issued the notices. A Wilmar spokesperson later told The Straits Times that the company is working to provide the relevant documents and information and will provide updates on material developments. First Resources said in a filing at 1.15am on Oct 24 that it had agreed to provide the necessary details, signed off by secretary Victor Lai Kuan Loong. Bumitama Agri and its subsidiaries said in a filing at 1.15pm the same day that they will provide the requested documents to the NEA, signed off by executive chairman and chief executive Lim Gunawan Hariyanto.
The NEA announced at 9pm on Oct 23 that it had issued notices against the 10 firms under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA). The agency is seeking comprehensive details on links to associated firms, information on land concessions, fire prevention measures, and active firefighting efforts on the ground. The 10 firms either own land concessions in Indonesia or have related companies that do. All operate in the oil palm or forestry sectors. The seven companies that have not responded to requests for comment are Asia Pulp & Paper Company, Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China), Golden Agri International, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea.
Representatives of non-compliant firms face a fine of up to $5,000, a jail term of up to one month, or both. Entities found guilty of causing or contributing to haze can be fined up to $100,000 for every day the pollution persists, capped at $2 million. The latest notices follow earlier preventive measures notices under Section 9 of the THPA, issued to seven Sumatra-based pulpwood companies on Oct 16 and three Kalimantan firms on Oct 19. Those Section 9 notices carry no penalty for non-compliance. Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Oct 19 that errant firms would no longer be allowed to hide behind complex corporate structures or geographical borders, and that Singapore would use "every legal and regulatory lever" to confront them.
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