Gel Nail Polish and the EU TPO Ban: What You Need to Know

In May, the European Union announced a ban on Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO) starting September 1, 2025. From that date, gel nail polishes containing TPO can no longer be sold or used by nail technicians in Europe.

Almost immediately, headlines claiming that all gel manicures were banned began circulating, followed by misinformation on social media. We’re here to help you understand how the EU reached its decision and how you can still safely enjoy your gel manicures.

What is TPO?

Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO) is a photoinitiator, a compound that turns liquids into solids when exposed to light. It’s commonly used in gel nail polish because of its curing efficiency and resistance to yellowing, and it’s also used in dental fillings for similar reasons.

Why was TPO banned?

The EU’s Cosmetics Regulation (EC No 1223/2009) automatically bans any ingredient classified as a reproductive toxicant, regardless of its use or concentration in cosmetics.(1)

In rat studies, extremely high oral doses of TPO caused reproductive issues such as testicular damage, reduced sperm count, and infertility.(2) These findings are not relevant to normal gel nail polish use, as the studies involved extraordinarily high doses of TPO and oral ingestion.

Industry experts have criticised this ruling:

• Doug Schoon, scientist and educator posted: "This is not about real safety. It is the result of a poorly written regulation that the EU refuses to change."(3)
• Kelly Dobos, cosmetic chemist told Allure: “The EU is taking a hazard-based approach instead of a risk-based approach.” She adds, “So even if there’s little or no real-world exposure, ingredients might still be banned.”(4) 
  • A hazard-based approach bans substances based solely on potential danger, regardless of actual use.
  • A risk-based approach considers exposure, concentration, and real-world usage, allowing for more accurate safety assessments.
• Amanda Lam, cosmetic chemist told Allure: "Some of the data the EU references uses concentrations much higher than normal or examines out-of-context scenarios."(4)

Worldwide Regulations

Kelly Dobos told Today she believes it is unlikely that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will issue a similar federal ban, as the U.S. uses a different regulatory framework from the EU, focusing more on risk-based assessments rather than hazard-based classification.(5)

Is Gel Nail Polish Safe?

These studies focus on extreme exposure scenarios, such as high-dose ingestion, that don’t reflect typical use, like applying gel polish every fortnight. Additionally, proper curing of gel polish under UV light locks TPO in place and deactivates it, meaning it cannot penetrate your skin or enter your system, a detail worth noting for those who bite their nails.(4)

Alternatives to TPO exist, but research confirming they are safer is limited.4 As Doug Schoon points out, large doses of common substances like caffeine, fructose, alcohol and soft drinks have also been shown to affect sperm count in male rats, underscoring that context matters.(3)

What Gelous Are Doing

We want to reassure you that our products meet all United States, Australian and New Zealand standards, regulations, and guidelines.

Some of our current products do contain TPO, but we’re actively working on developing a range that will be free from this to meet EU regulations. We continuously review and improve our formulas to make them the best they can be. This means taking the time needed to ensure they’re as long-lasting, high-quality, safe, and reliable as the products you already know and love.

Your trust and confidence mean a lot to us, and we’re committed to maintaining it. Your safety and well-being are at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for being part of our community.