HELSINKI – The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has backed proposals by Norway and Germany to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related substances, as well as of articles and mixtures containing these substances. PFOA – a by-product of perfluorocarbons often used in oil and water-repellent fabrics – is recognised as a persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic substance (PBT).
