ASEAN Environment Ministers met in Singapore on 26 August 99 to review measures taken to deal with the current fires in Sumatra and Borneo and the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Haze Action Plan. The Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the 14th Meeting of the ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force on 25 August 99.

The Ministerial Meeting was attended by H,E. Pengiran Indera Wijaya Pengiran Dr Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Damit, Minister of Development, Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Dr Panangian Siregar, State Minister for the Environment, Indonesia; H.E. Datuk Law Hieng Ding, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment:, Malaysia; H.E, Dr Arthit Ourairat, Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Thailand; H.E. Mr Lee Yock Suan, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Information and the Arts, Singapore; H.E. Mr To Gary, Secretary of State for Environment, Cambodia; H.E. Mr Leuane Sombounkhan, Ambassador of Lao People's Democratic Republic to Singapore; H.E. U Myo Myint, Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar to Singapore; Mr Victoriano M Lecaros, Minister and Consul-General of the Philippine Embassy to Singapore; and Dr Suthad Setboonsarng, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat and their respective delegations. The Ministerial Meeting was also attended by representatives from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the US Southeast Asia Environmental Initiatives (SEA-EI).

The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr Lee Yock Suan, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Information and the Arts, Singapore.

The Ministers expressed their deep concern that despite numerous Ministerial meetings and attention on the regional haze problem, fires have recently recurred in Sumatra, Borneo and some parts of Peninsula Malaysia, and only after a brief dry spell. These fires have caused the haze to spread to surrounding countries at the end of July 99.

The Ministers noted that most of the recent fires were plantation fires. The Ministers recommended that emphasis should be given to adopting better management practices in developing new areas, including peat swamp and coal areas. The Ministers also decided to meet up with Indonesian Malaysian plantation companies at a date to be fixed.

The Ministers also took note that the current wet conditions associated with the La Nina phenomenon have fortuitously helped control the current fires and haze situation. However, as the La Nina is expected to weaken by the end of the year, meteorological experts have predicted a likely recurrence of normal or even dry conditions associated with the El Nino phenomenon next year or by 2001.

The Meeting expressed appreciation for Indonesia's efforts in dealing with the fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The Ministers called for immediate actions to implement the zero-burning policy that was previously adopted at the Sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze in April 99. The Ministers urged Indonesia to quickly implement the necessary by-laws and regulations to enforce the zero-burning policy.

The Meeting welcomed the dialogue session held on 24 July 99 in Indonesia to promote zero-burning practices. The dialogue session involved forestry concessionaires, plantation companies and government officials from Riau, North Sumatra and Jambi Provinces. The Ministers agreed that such dialogue sessions are useful and should be held more regularly especially during the dry months of May to October each year.

The Ministers noted that there are still large tracts of forested laws to be developed into plantations in Sumatra and Borneo. The Ministers strongly urged that open burning should not be allowed for the conversion of these large tracts of lands into plantations.

The Ministers reiterated that the key towards preventing fires is to ensure strict enforcement against land clearing using fire. The Ministers recognised that stringent enforcement actions taken by Brunei and Malaysia through the implementation of the zero-burning policy and the presumption clause in their legislation have helped to control burning activities effectively. The Meeting welcomed Malaysia's offer to share her enforcement experience and conduct training courses relating to zero-burning practices in Sumatra and Kalimantan especially for plantation companies.

The Ministers encouraged joint visits by other member countries in the execution of national activities such as enforcement, fire-fighting and prosecution of offenders. These visits will enable better understanding of problems and encourage possible offer of immediate assistance where required.

The Ministers noted that regional and local public education and awareness building campaigns relating to burning practices, haze impact and zero burning policy are urgently needed. The Meeting urged the ASEAN Secretariat to develop an integrated information system relating to fires and transboundary haze.

The Ministers endorsed the terms of reference for a feasibility study to develop an ASEAN Legal Framework on Transboundary Haze Pollution and invited UNEP to render assistance in its implementation.

The Ministers expressed their appreciation to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and various donor countries/agencies for their prompt attention and assistance in supporting ASEAN's effort in addressing the forest fires and haze problem. The Meeting called upon the international community and donor countries to continue with their participation in the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Haze Action Plan.