Salons in the EU cannot use nail polishes and gels with TPO — even those bought before the ban

Cosmetics containing TPO may not be sold or used in salons anywhere in the European Union. The ban has been in force since 1 September 2025 and also covers products bought earlier: an invoice with an earlier date does not give the right to use up leftover polish or gel on clients. Hybrid and gel manicures are still allowed, provided the products used comply with the law.

TPO is a photoinitiator that triggers the hardening of the coating under a lamp; in ingredient lists it appears as Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. It was previously permitted in professional artificial nail products at concentrations of up to 5%. Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/877 of 12 May 2025, the substance was added to the list of prohibited substances, the reason being its classification as toxic for reproduction, category 1B.

No transition period has been provided for selling off or using up stocks: according to clarifications from the European Commission’s services, applying a product containing TPO to a client’s nails in the course of business activity also counts as making a cosmetic product available on the market, and the purchase date does not change that.