PFOA had been used as a processing aid in the manufacture of certain fluoropolymers. In the U.S., EU and Japan manufacturers have phased out the use of PFOA and have developed alternative processing aids or new production processes that do not require processing aids. In fact, in 2006, eight major manufacturers voluntarily joined the EPA’s PFOA Stewardship Program, which included a commitment to cease the manufacture and use of PFOA and PFOA-related chemicals and also an agreement for new PFAS chemistry to undergo enhanced regulatory review before being permitted on the market. PFOS was used as a surfactant in fabric protectants, aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), and semiconductor manufacture until production ceased in the United States in the early 2000s.