Why has the EU banned gel nail polish?

The European Union has banned a key ingredient in gel nail polish .

As of September 1, 2025, the sale and use of new products containing Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, known as TPO, is prohibited across all 27 EU member states, and salons cannot use up their old stock.

But what is TPO? And why has it been banned in the EU?

What is TPO and why has the EU banned it in gel nail polish?

TPO helps nail polish harden and dry instantly under UV or LED light.

The EU has banned TPO in products because it’s classified it as a CMR 1B substance, a category for chemicals considered potentially harmful to fertility.

While the amounts of the chemical used in animal tests were far higher than what you'd get from a manicure, experts stress that this is a better safe than sorry precauti