Gel nail polish now banned in Europe due to toxic ingredient

A key ingredient in gel nail polish has just been banned over growing health fears.

Gel manicures have always felt like a treatment which felt too good to be true. Strong, durable, and able to last for several weeks on your nails without chipping, they've really been the go to for anyone getting their nails done.

However, the availability of such treatments could become a little more tricky in the future, due to concerns regarding a key ingredient.

As of 1 September 2025, the European Union has banned gel polishes containing the ingredient trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide or (or TPO). As for Brits wanting to get their nails done, they can expect the same regulations to come into play at some point in late 2026.

So what is TPO – and why are there concerns about the chemical?

Certain gel manicures may now be banned in the EU, with the UK expected to follow suit (Getty Stock Images)

What is TPO and why is it getting banned?

According to Nail Order, TPO is a photoinitiator which triggers the hardening process of gel based nail products by causing it to harden. It's historically been favoured by nail technicians and manufacturers due to its ability to speed up curing time after being applied to the nail.

However, recent studies have revealed that TPO products could have a negative impact on fertility, prompting the EU to ban it.

TPO is now classified as a 'CMR 1B substance' which includes substances considered 'carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction'.

The study follows previous concerns about the role of UV and LED lamps used in the manicure process, suggesting potential risks of increased UVA exposure and cancer.

The move is currently considered to be more of a preventative measure, with dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman telling Wellness Pulse that the EU has likely banned it out of 'caution'.

"The European Union is banning it out of caution, since even though we don't yet have large-scale human studies proving harm, the potential risks were enough to warrant stricter regulation," Kopelman explained.

"From a medical perspective, I view this as more of a precautionary move rather than a response to strong human evidence."

The ruling follows increased risks about links between UV lamps and cancer (Getty Stock Images)

Is this the end of gel nail polish?

Before anyone starts stockpiling fake nails or spends the whole evening anxiously researching alternative manicures, don't worry, as TPO isn't included in every formula.

The ruling instead means that nail polish technicians will instead have to use gel polishes which don't include the chemical, while nail polish brands will have to reformulate their products to ensure they are TPO-free.

Meanwhile, concerned manicure enthusiasts can also limit their exposure by making sure any polish used on their nails is TPO-free, with numerous options already existing on the market.