Useful journalism to understand, manage and grow a business.
SearchThe NEA issued notices under the THPA to ten companies registered in Singapore, including Wilmar and APP. The measure seeks to gather information; it does not in itself establish liability.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) issued notices on October 23, 2026, to 10 companies registered in the country, seeking information about their land concessions in Indonesia, corporate relationships, and measures taken to prevent or fight fires. The action is part of an investigation into the transboundary haze affecting Singapore and was taken under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA).
The companies notified include Wilmar International and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). The NEA said the companies operate in the palm oil or forestry sectors and hold concessions in Indonesia or have affiliated companies that hold them.
The notices request documents and information about the companies’ ties to associated entities in Singapore and Indonesia, the locations of their concessions, and fire-prevention and firefighting actions taken during the dry season. The agency aims to establish the facts and determine whether any company contributed to the haze pollution; the notice alone does not establish liability.
The ten named companies are Asia Pulp & Paper Company, Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China), Bumitama Agri, Golden Agri International, First Resources, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Global Plantation, TSH Oversea, and Wilmar International.
The measure targeting companies registered in Singapore follows preventive notices sent by the NEA to 10 Indonesian companies: seven over fires in Sumatra on October 16, and three over fires in Kalimantan on October 19.
Issued under Section 9 of the THPA, those notices require the companies to deploy firefighting personnel on land they own or occupy, stop or refrain from starting fires, and submit plans to extinguish fires or prevent them from spreading or recurring. The NEA also requested information about fires on the concessions, measures taken, and corporate ties. These are different instruments: notices under Section 9 set out preventive measures, while those under Section 10 request documents and information.
According to coverage by The Straits Times, failure to comply with a Section 10 notice may expose company representatives to a fine of up to S$5,000, imprisonment for up to one month, or both. The stated penalty concerns failure to comply with the information request; it is not equivalent to a conviction for causing the haze.
Separately, the Ministry of Law announced that Davinder Singh Chambers will advise the Government on coordinating cross-border inquiries and investigations. A specialist panel comprising law firms, audit firms, and investigative firms is also expected to be formed to examine the operations, corporate relationships, and supply chains of companies identified by the authorities.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu described the initiative as a step toward establishing the facts and gathering evidence. She said the Government would examine links between companies in Singapore and Indonesia and follow the evidence to determine whether accountability should be pursued. The investigation is therefore intended to clarify the relevant connections and actions; any conclusion about liability will depend on the evidence and the applicable legal process.
The modernization of the Castelló de Rugat plant adds automation, a line for leafy mandarins and AI-assisted sorting; the company expects to strengthen its service to large retailers.
Read story
The British newspaper’s analysis highlights the fiscal surplus and slowing inflation, but also points to weak economic activity, formal job losses, and lagging real wages. The divide between export-oriented sectors and the domestic market poses a challenge heading into 2027.
Read story
The five shortlisted bidders for Tubos Reunidos refuse to take on its €150 million debt to SEPI. The insolvency administrator supports their position, considering the loan subordinated, while the state agency demands that it be transferred—complicating the company’s viability and its ability to pay wages.
Read story