Health officials have banned a key ingredient used in gel nail polish in the EU over fears it could be toxic to humans – but not in the UK
Picture displays steps taken while doing Gel or Acrylic Nails.(Image: Getty Images)
A key ingredient in many brands of gel nail polish has been banned in the European Union (EU) – but currently remains available in the UK.
Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, better known as TPO, gives gel polish its characteristic glossy finish and helps the polish harden when exposed to UV light.
The ingredient was banned by the EU as of September 1 over fears it could be toxic to humans.
What are the health concerns over gel nail polish?
The EU has said the TPO ban is because the ingredient has been classed as a CMR 1B substance, which it describes as a ‘reproductive toxicant’.
TPO is used to harden gel polish under UV light(Image: Getty Images)
Several studies conducted on animals have linked TPO to long-term fertility damage. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of the chemical on fertility, but the ban has been introduced as a precautionary measure.
EU regulators have labelled TPO as “carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction.”
Will gel nail polish be banned in the UK?
The ban does not currently affect the UK. However, it is set to introduce a similar ban towards the end of 2026, giving UK nail professionals more time to adapt to the new regulations.
Similarly, the US has not yet regulated TPO. However, industry experts say it could impact nail professionals in the US if salons source their products from EU countries.
Nail salons across the EU’s 27 member states have been informed that they must stop offering gel nails containing TPO and that they must safely dispose of their current stock.
The EU has banned gel nails until further testing can be done(Image: Getty Images)
Other countries that mirror EU regulations, such as Norway and Switzerland must also stop selling the TPO-based products.
It is likely that nail brands will be working towards or launching products with alternative ingredients to TPO, according to nail industry magazine Scratch.
However, some nail industry figures have opposed the ban. California-based scientific consultant Doug Schoon wrote in an open letter on August 31: “The prohibition of TPO in U.V. gels is not supported by a scientifically justified risk assessment.
“If left uncorrected, this decision will once again impose unnecessary economic burdens, waste safe products, and undermine confidence in E.U. regulatory proportionality.”