Unhealthy air quality in Singapore enough to trigger haze pollution law; NEA is monitoring situation
Those guilty under the Act can be fined up to S$100,000 a day, capped at a total of S$2 million
Singapore's air quality deteriorated to an unhealthy level for the first time in two years following a spate of haze episodes since September 4, prompting authorities to monitor the situation due to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. The National Environment Agency (NEA) is closely watching for fires and their impact on the city-state's air quality.
If the pollution level remains unhealthy for 24 hours or more, the Act could be enforced. Fines for violations, which caps at S$2 million, can reach up to S$100,000 per day. The NEA collaborates with regional partners to tackle transboundary haze pollution, including the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre and the Interim Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control.
Singapore has already experienced five episodes of unhealthy air quality lasting over 24 hours since the initial haze on September 4. The situation worsened on October 9, with the PSI reaching 192, the highest in 2026. The haze originates mainly from forest and land fires in Indonesia, exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon this year. The haze law was enacted in 2014 following a severe crisis in 2013.
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
