According to information released recently by Ningbo city's Standards Academe, European Union issued a law late last year to limit the use PFOS — a chemical used in industrial goods such as textile and leather products and carpets. EU member countries must implement this law from June 27, 2008.

This law was necessitated because recent studies have found that PFOS contains toxic pollutants that can accumulate to potentially dangerous levels. EU, America, Japan, Canada and other developed countries have taken a keen interest in reducing this chemical's harmful effects.

However, the new law will have a major impact on Chinese textile, leather and other industries as they may incur losses. Standards Academe has asked textile export enterprises to either research and develop substitutes for PFOS or increase its safety and eco-friendly properties.