Cross-Border Industrial Pollution Coordination and Transboundary Environmental and Air Quality Monitoring Standards
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Singapore’s coordination with Malaysia on industrial pollution monitoring and the establishment of air quality standards for hazardous pollutants beyond the Pollutant Standards Index. Mr Low Wu Yang Andre enquired about the frequency of joint sampling exercises with Malaysian agencies, while Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked for specific monitoring details and detection limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan also sought comparisons between local VOC exposure limits and international standards established by the WHO, EU, and US Environmental Protection Agency. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien directed the Members to a combined written reply from the 13 January 2026 Parliament sitting. This referred response addressed the detection of toxic air pollutants exceeding international safety limits in the regions of Jalan Kayu, Punggol, and Seletar.
Transcript
17 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how frequently do Singapore and Malaysia agencies meet to coordinate industrial pollution monitoring; (b) whether joint sampling or validation exercises have been conducted in the last three years; and (c) what the key outcomes of these exchanges have been in mitigating cross-border pollution risks to Singapore.
18 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) beyond the six pollutants measured for the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), what other hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds are continuously monitored in Singapore's northern and north-eastern regions; (b) what are the (i) sampling frequencies (ii) analytical methods and (iii) minimum detection limits for each monitored pollutant.
19 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what specific ambient air quality standards or safe exposure limits has Singapore adopted for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants beyond the six Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) pollutants; and (b) how these standards compare with WHO Air Quality Guidelines, EU Ambient Air Quality Directives, and US Environmental Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The Members' queries have been addressed in the combined written reply to Parliamentary Question No 69 at the 13 January 2026 Parliament sitting. [Please refer to "Detection of Toxic Air Pollutants Exceeding International Safety Limits in Jalan Kayu, Punggol or Seletar", Official Report, 13 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 13, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]