Singapore NEA issues haze notices to seven Sumatra firms

Regulatory Action Against Sumatra-Based Firms

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) has identified seven companies in Sumatra, Indonesia, as responsible for fires that contributed to recent transboundary haze affecting Singapore. Following investigations, the NEA issued preventive measure notices to these firms on Friday, 16 October 2026, under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA).

The notices mandate that the companies deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish existing fires and prevent new ones on their land. Furthermore, they are required to cease all burning activities and submit detailed action plans outlining their strategies for fire suppression and prevention of future recurrences. The NEA traced the fire incidents linked to these companies to specific episodes on 8 October and 9 October.

Identified Companies and Prior History

The seven companies named by the NEA are Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau, Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, Sumatera Alam Anugerah, SBA Wood Industries, Hutan Lestari Raya, and Bangkanesia. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, noted that while the companies are located in Sumatra, their national affiliation was not specified.

Three of these firms—Bumi Andalas Permai, SBA Wood Industries, and Bumi Mekar Hijau—are known wood suppliers to Asia Pulp & Paper, a part of the Sinar Mas Group. These three companies had also received similar preventive notices from the NEA during the 2015 haze episode, and investigations into their practices from that period remain ongoing.

Earlier in October, a Greenpeace report additionally cited two listed palm oil companies, Bumitama Agri and First Resources, for having plantation areas in Indonesia where fires were detected.

Workplace Safety Directives in Singapore

In parallel with the regulatory actions, Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau reminded employers in Singapore of their legal obligations to protect workers from haze. Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, employers must implement practical measures to ensure worker safety.

Specific guidelines were outlined for different levels of haze severity: if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast exceeds 200, employers should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor work, reduce outdoor work for vulnerable employees, and provide N95 masks for those undertaking extended outdoor tasks.

Should the PSI forecast surpass 300, employers are advised to further minimise outdoor work for all employees, reduce work intensity, offer indoor rest breaks, and defer non-essential activities. The Ministry of Manpower has conducted over 400 worksite inspections since September, finding that most employers have implemented haze management plans and provided masks.

Implications for Regional Industries

The NEA's actions against the seven Sumatra-based companies signal increased scrutiny and potential operational costs for industries operating in regions prone to land fires, particularly in the wood and palm oil sectors. Companies identified will face immediate expenses related to deploying firefighting resources and developing compliance plans.

The continued open investigations into some firms from the 2015 haze episode indicate a sustained regulatory focus, suggesting that non-compliance could lead to further measures under the THPA.

Investors in regional plantation and timber companies should monitor the NEA's subsequent actions and the responses of the implicated firms, as additional notices or enforcement could affect operational stability and supply chain reliability across Southeast Asia.

The 24-hour PSI reading in Singapore's central region reached 229 on 16 October 2026, underscoring the immediate need for effective fire prevention.