The European Union has banned a key ingredient in gel nail polish, raising concerns that products used in salons in the UK and elsewhere may not be safe.
From 1 September 2025, Norway, Switzerland, and all 27 EU member states have prohibited the use and sale of the chemical trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, or TPO.
This means that any leftover nail products containing TPO can no longer be used in salons in those countries.
Under a post-Brexit framework, the UK is considering imposing a similar ban in late-2026 – but until then, TPO products are still allowed.
What is TPO and why are scientists concerned about it?
Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide is a substance used in gel nail polishes as a photoinitiator – a molecule that sparks a reaction when exposed to light.
This means that when a customer in a nail salon places their gel nails under a lamp, the polish hardens and becomes more resistant to chipping.
Following a small number of studies linking TPO exposure to long-term fertility issues in animals, EU officials decided to classify it as a CMR (carcinogen, mutagen, reprotoxic) under its classification, labelling, and packaging regulations.
The EU TPO ban is seen as a precautionary measure, as scientists have not yet evidenced any risk to humans.
The US is also yet to legislate on it, with TPO products still allowed in salons across all 50 states.
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The Gel Bottle, which produces the thickening product BIAB, or Builder In A Bottle, cautioned in a statement: “The cosmetics industry frequently undergoes regulatory updates to protect consumer safety and wellbeing.
“These updates are proactive measures, ensuring products remain compliant with the latest scientific research and safety standards. This is not a product recall, current products remain safe to use.”
Will it impact nail salons in the UK?
Since Brexit, separate legislation governs the use of chemicals in Great Britain, with Northern Ireland subject to slightly modified rules under the Windsor Framework due to its location on the island of Ireland.
The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations have been in place since 1 January 2021.
REACH consulted with businesses, scientists, and other stakeholders over the use of TPO in 2022, with most respondents supporting a ban by October 2026.
This was intended to give businesses time to transition to alternative products.
The UK government has said “subject to consent of the Scottish and Welsh governments… [it] intends to introduce” the ban on the proposed timescale, although this is yet to be confirmed.
How widely is TPO used in salons?
TPO has proved a popular choice for gel nail products because it works with both UV and LED light, allowing salon owners more choice in the type of drying equipment they use.
However, as soon as the EU began the process of banning it, manufacturers started to swap their products for TPO-free alternatives.
Popular brands such as OPI, Apres Nail, and Aimelli now have a wide range of non-TPO products.
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The Gel Bottle says all of its EU products are now TPO-free.
“We are pleased to confirm that 100% of The Gel Bottle products sold in the EU are now fully TPO-free and compliant with the September 2025 regulation,” it said in a statement.
“We are actively transitioning all products to new TPO-free formulations, with reformulated versions already rolling out. We expect the entire range to be fully TPO-free ahead of the UK regulatory deadline (Sep 2026).”
