UK bans chemical used in gel nail polish over health concerns

The United Nations has raised restrictions on nail gel products containing Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), a chemical used to help gel polish harden under ultraviolet or LED light.

The measure, which took effect on August 15, prohibits cosmetic products containing TPO from being placed on the Great Britain market, but does not amount to a ban on gel manicures or gel polish.

TPO is a photoinitiator that helps gel polish cure when exposed to UV or LED light. Under UK rules, it is classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant, meaning there are concerns about its potential effects on reproductive health.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has linked TPO to potential long-term fertility problems. The European Union classifies the chemical as a CMR substance, meaning it has carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity properties. The classification prompted the EU to prohibit its use in cosmetic products in 2025.

However, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) has stressed that the restrictions are a precautionary regulatory measure based on the chemical's hazardous properties at high levels of exposure.

It said the classification does not by itself prove that cosmetic products containing TPO are unsafe when used as intended.

Caroline Rainsford, director of science at the CTPA, said the EU ban was based on how TPO could behave in a worst-case scenario involving exposure to a very large amount of the substance.

"This is not how TPO is used in cosmetics. The amount of this ingredient used in nail products is over a thousand times less than the amount which could have any negative effect on fertility, and these products are applied to the nail, so the potential for the ingredient to be absorbed into our bodies is even smaller," she said.

Under the new UK rules, manufacturers and importers can no longer place cosmetic products containing TPO on the Great Britain market. Products that were already available can remain on sale during a transition period until February 14, 2027.

The UK had earlier indicated that it would prohibit TPO after the chemical was added to the country's Mandatory Classification and Labelling List in February 2025.

The development follows the EU's prohibition of TPO-containing cosmetic products in 2025 and reflects a wider regulatory shift affecting ingredients used in the beauty industry.

For nail salons and technicians, the changes mean businesses must ensure that the products they purchase and use comply with the new requirements.