What is TPO?
Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), a photoinitiator that helps gel nail products cure quickly under UV light and maintain colour stability.
What is the Issue?
TPO has recently been reclassified as a CMR (carcinogen, mutagen, reprotoxic) 1B substance. The reclassification of the product triggered the European Commission to ban the substance (given their legislation requirements) - which came into effect on the 1st September 2025 (this included the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland who both follow EU Cosmetic Regulations).
The nail industry largely believes the ban is an overreaction based on unrealistic exposure scenarios -TPO was tested on animals that ingested the ingredient orally in high concentrations: conditions far removed from its involvement within nail services where the exposure levels from gel nails are very low (typically at concentrations between 1–5%) and significantly below the thresholds shown to cause harm. The European Commission has acknowledged that the current framework ‘offers little flexibility for economic operators – especially SMEs’, and a proposal to revise the Cosmetics Regulation has been tabled. However unless it is formally endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission must apply the law as it currently stands.
Ban Dates for the rest of the UK
The differing dates of the enforcement between the UK and EU are because they have ‘parallel, but separate, regulatory systems for chemicals and cosmetics. However the rest of the UK have now committed to follow that legislation too and the dates to note for the Rest of The UK (England, Scotland & Wales) are as follows:
- Manufacturers must not place any products containing TPO on the market in Great Britain from 15 August 2026.
- Distributors will not be able to make any products containing TPO available for professionals to purchase after 14 February 2027.
- Practicing nail technicians in Great Britain will not be able to purchase products containing TPO after 14 February 2027. However, professionals operating in Great Britain can still use any products they have already purchased after this date
Should anything change or revisions be made we will advise our members immediately but in the meantime this is the confirmed schedule.