SINGAPORE - A panel of eight experts advising the Government on transboundary pollution like the haze has met for the first time.

The International Advisory Panel on Transboundary Pollution, chaired by Professor S. Jayakumar and Ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh, convened on Thursday and Friday in Singapore and met Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Friday.

The panel of local and foreign law experts, helped by four others such as Indonesia's head of the Presidential Advisory Council, Professor Emil Salim, are to advise the Government on international law related to the pollution, and practical steps Singapore can take against it.

After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Teo said: "Singapore takes the haze issue seriously... Singapore has taken various measures to prepare for haze, and there have also been proposals at the regional level, some of which have been implemented. But we need to examine what other steps can be taken. I look forward to receiving the (panel's) recommendations soon."