10 S'pore-based companies served notices by NEA over haze confirm they have received them

The 10 Singapore-based companies that have been served legal notices by the National Environment Agency (NEA) over haze links have now all acknowledged their receipt.

Previously, five of the 10 companies had publicly confirmed receiving the notices when NEA served the notices last week on Oct. 23.

The remaining firms have since followed suit.

Three of them did not say they would explicitly cooperate with the agency's request. These are Indofood Agri Resources, TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea.

Who are the five?

Golden Agri International Pte Ltd

Golden Agri International Pte Ltd was the first of the remaining firms to acknowledge receipt of the notice, doing so on Oct. 24.

A statement by their parent company, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd, said that it was reviewing the notice and pledged cooperation with NEA, and that it would provide further updates when necessary.

The company claims to uphold No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) commitments, stating that they have stopped development on peatland since 2010.

Peatland is a type of wetland where the soils contain decaying plant matter.

The drying out of peatland for agricultural development has been a major factor in the persistent fires across Indonesia.

Kencana Agri Ltd

Kencana Agri Ltd confirmed it received a notice from NEA on Oct. 25.

It similarly affirmed that it would cooperate fully with NEA in accordance with applicable laws.

In a previous statement, it claimed that its subsidiary in Indonesia did not carry out land clearing or land preparation on affected areas in North Kalimantan, as the fire had allegedly spread from adjacent third-party areas.

Indofood Agri Resources Ltd

Indofood Agri Resources Ltd also acknowledged the notice on Oct. 25.

It stated that it would make further announcements "as and when there are material developments."

The group previously responded to Singapore Exchange (SGX) queries, claiming that it has a "strict zero-burning policy" and continuously monitors hotspots around its plantations.

It is a subsidiary of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, which also owns Indofood CBP, better known as the maker of Indomie instant noodles.

TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea 

TSH Resources Berhad, the parent company of both TSH Global Plantation Pte Ltd and TSH Oversea Pte Ltd, confirmed their receipt of the notice on Oct. 26.

The parent company is a Malaysia-based firm, but the two firms issued notices are registered in Singapore.

Their statement stated that it would "engage with the Agency accordingly."

Notice requirements

Through the notices, NEA is seeking details on the companies' links to associated firms, their land concessions, fire prevention measures, and firefighting efforts by the firms or their associated companies on the ground in Indonesia.

Representatives of firms that do not comply face a fine of up to S$5,000, up to one month's jail, or both.

Companies found responsible for contributing to transboundary haze pollution can face fines of up to S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million.

However, NEA's delivery of a notice to a company does not mean that it has necessarily been found responsible.