Gel nail polish banned in Europe over harmful chemical TPO

Beauty enthusiasts love gel nail paints as a major part of their manicure routine.

Gel nail paints are most popular across the world as compared to other common nail enamels as it is long-lasting and less prone to chipping.

According to latest reports, health officials have banned nail product used by millions everyday, over major health concerns.

A key ingredient used in many brands of gel nail polish has been strictly prohibited in Europe now.

According to Fox news, a chemical Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide commonly known as TPO is now forbidden in all cosmetic products from September 1, 2025, as the European Union officials deemed it potentially toxic to humans.

It has been reported that numerous gel nail polishes use TPO as “photo-initiator” which lets the nail paint harden faster when processed through ultra-violet (UV) light which helps them hold their color for longer, offering a glowing and long-lasting manicure.

While the gel polish stays out for weeks, rather than days, due to the UV-curing process, experts warn it can actually pose serious health risks.

The decision appears to stem from several studies linking TPO exposure to fertility issues.

Moreover, the EU regulators under the EU law, reclassified TPO as a category 1B CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction) substance, meaning it may cause cancer or harmful for reproduction which triggered an automatic ban.

Nail salons across the 27 European states, as well as other countries that mirror its regulations such as Norway, have been informed that they must stop offering TPO-based nail gels, and safely dispose of their current stock.

Manufacturers will also now have to reformulate their products to be TPO-free.

Furthermore, US agencies including the food and drug Administration (FDA) and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice consumer to always read product labels, apply polish in well-ventilated areas and follow directions for safe use.

Not only nail polishes, the European Union (EU) has strictly prohibited the use of TPO in all cosmetics.

At present the ban is only limited to European countries but industry insiders expect a similar ban to get implemented in other countries like U.S. and U.K. till the end of 2026.

According to the industry reports there is still good news for customers as gel nail paints are not going away from the beauty industry or markets and brands are already reformulating new ingredients like TPO-L, Methyl -Benzoylformate.