The TPO ban explained: what nail techs need to know, country by country

Quick answer: TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide) is the ingredient that helps many gels cure under a lamp. It has been banned in all cosmetic products across the EU and Northern Ireland since 1 September 2025, with no time allowed to use up stock. In Great Britain, no new TPO products can be placed on the market from 15 August 2026, and suppliers must stop selling them to you from 14 February 2027. It is still permitted in the US, Canada and Australia. Check your labels, talk to your suppliers, and plan your switch to TPO free systems now.

Few ingredient changes have caused as many questions at the nail desk as this one. A word most clients had never heard of suddenly appeared in headlines, and nail techs found themselves fielding messages asking whether their manicure was safe.

The good news is that the facts are clear once you lay them out. The rules differ depending on where you work, the timelines are fixed, and there are good alternatives already on the shelves. This guide walks you through it country by country, so you can make calm decisions for your business and give clients honest, reassuring answers.

What TPO is and why it matters in nail products

TPO is a photoinitiator. When your lamp switches on, it absorbs the light and starts the chemical reaction that hardens gel polish, builder gel and other UV or LED cured products. It became popular because it works across a wide range of wavelengths, which made it compatible with many different lamps, and it helps keep colours stable.

On an ingredient list you will see it written as Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide.

Why TPO was reclassified

The change came from chemical safety law, not from any finding that gel manicures harm clients. TPO was reclassified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant (part of the group known as CMR substances) after animal studies showed fertility effects when rats were fed high doses. Under EU cosmetics law, CMR 1B substances are banned by default, regardless of how small the amount is or how a product is used.

Before the reclassification, Europe's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety had judged TPO safe at up to 5% in nail products for professional use, according to the Irish regulator HPRA. The UK trade body CTPA says the amount used in nail products is more than a thousand times lower than the level that could affect fertility. A toxicologist interviewed by PBS NewsHour estimated that only around 1% of TPO remains after proper curing, locked into the hardened gel.

So this is a precautionary, hazard based ban. That distinction is useful when you talk to clients, and we cover it further down.

The TPO ban country by country

European Union

TPO was one of 22 substances added to the EU list of banned cosmetic ingredients by Regulation (EU) 2025/877, published in May 2025. The ban took effect on 1 September 2025. The European Commission's guidance is clear that there is no sell through period. Using a product on a client counts as making it available, so salons had to stop using TPO products on that date, even stock bought before the ban. Products cannot be passed on or given away either.

Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Ireland follows the EU rules in full. Northern Ireland also follows the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so TPO products have not been legal to buy or use there since 1 September 2025, as confirmed by BABTAC and Scratch. The later Great Britain dates do not apply in Northern Ireland.

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards published the law amending the UK Cosmetics Regulation in January 2026. The CTPA confirms two dates for TPO:

• 15 August 2026: manufacturers can no longer place new TPO products on the GB market.
• 14 February 2027: distributors and suppliers can no longer sell TPO products, so you cannot buy them after this date.

Great Britain takes a gentler approach to stock you already own. The CTPA's interpretation, agreed with Trading Standards, is that nail professionals can keep using TPO products bought before 14 February 2027 on clients until that stock runs out. Keep your purchase records so you can show when stock was bought.

United Arab Emirates

In October 2025, Gulf News reported that Dubai Central Laboratory can now test imported and locally sold cosmetics for TPO, to keep products that fall short of international standards out of the emirate. No federal UAE ban had been announced at that point, so if you work in the Gulf, ask your distributor for written confirmation of what is in your gels and watch for updates from your local authority.

United States

TPO is not banned in the US. American cosmetics law works differently from the EU: brands are responsible for making sure their products are safe, and the FDA can act if a product is harmful when used as intended, as PolitiFact explains. Many US brands now offer TPO free ranges anyway, because they sell into Europe and the UK.

Canada

Health Canada told CTV News in September 2025 that it had not identified a risk from TPO in nail products, and that it was reviewing the EU's decision to decide whether similar steps are needed. TPO remains permitted for now.

Australia and New Zealand

In Australia, nail product chemicals fall under the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme. The Nightly reported that TPO was assessed in 2019 and the risks to workers were judged manageable through labelling and workplace safety measures. As of August 2026, Professional Beauty Australia notes that no equivalent ban has been announced. New Zealand techs should check with their own regulator, as rules can change quickly.

Wherever you work, treat this as a moving picture. Check your local regulator's website before you make big stock decisions.

What to do with existing stock

Your next steps depend on where you work:

• EU, Ireland and Northern Ireland: TPO products should already be out of use. Do not sell, swap or give them away. Dispose of them following your local rules for chemical waste, and ask your supplier whether they offer a take back service.
• Great Britain: you can keep using what you own. Use this window to run down stock, avoid bulk buying TPO lines before February 2027, and test your replacement system while you still have a choice.
• Everywhere else: you can keep using TPO products for now, but many brands are reformulating globally. Ask your suppliers what their plans are so you are not caught out by a discontinued shade.

How to check your labels

Turn the bottle over and read the full ingredient list. You are looking for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. Some older or imported labels may use chemical variations such as diphenyl(2,4,6 trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide.

Do not confuse it with Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate. This is a different photoinitiator, often used as a replacement, and it is not covered by the TPO ban. If a label is unclear, or a product has no ingredient list at all, contact the brand and ask for a written statement and an up to date safety data sheet. Professional Beauty Australia makes a useful point here: only describe your service as TPO free when you have that confirmation in writing.

TPO free alternatives and lamp compatibility

Most major professional brands now have TPO free gel polish, builder gel and hard gel ranges. They use other photoinitiators, and that is where your lamp comes in.

Different photoinitiators absorb light at different wavelengths. A gel that cured perfectly under your old lamp may cure differently under a new formula. This is the way to switch smoothly:

1. Use the lamp recommended by the brand, or confirm in writing that your current lamp is compatible.
2. Follow the new curing times exactly, even if they are longer than you are used to.
3. Apply thin layers so light can reach every part of the product.
4. Check lamp bulbs or LEDs are clean and working, and replace lamps at the end of their working life.
5. Watch for signs of under curing, such as a tacky finish after cleansing, heat spikes, or lifting.

Full curing matters for every gel, with or without TPO, and keeping uncured product off the skin helps reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Our guide to nail allergies and safe nail services explains how to protect yourself and your clients, and our step by step builder gel application guide covers the technique that keeps product off the skin.

Talking to clients about TPO

Clients will have seen headlines. What they want from you is calm, honest information. A simple way to explain it:

• The ban is based on the ingredient's hazard classification from high dose animal studies, not on evidence that gel manicures cause harm.
• The amounts used in nail products are tiny, and properly cured gel locks the ingredient in.
• Tell them what you use: "We use TPO free products" or "We are moving to TPO free products by this date."
• Reassure them that you cure fully and keep product off the skin, because that is what protects them most.

If a client is pregnant, trying to conceive, or has a health concern, invite them to speak to their doctor and respect whatever they decide. You are there to offer clear facts, not medical advice.

FAQs

Is gel polish banned in the UK?

No. Gel polish is not banned. Only products containing TPO are being phased out. In Great Britain, suppliers cannot sell TPO products after 14 February 2027. TPO free gels remain fully available.

Can I still use my TPO gels?

In Great Britain, yes, if you bought them before 14 February 2027. In the EU, Ireland and Northern Ireland, no, use stopped on 1 September 2025. Elsewhere, check your local regulator.

Is TPO banned in the US, Canada or Australia?

Not at the time of writing. Health Canada is reviewing the EU decision, and Australia has not announced a ban. Many brands sell TPO free ranges in these countries anyway.

How do I know if my gel contains TPO?

Look for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide on the ingredient list. If there is no list or you are unsure, ask the brand for written confirmation and a safety data sheet.

Do I need a new lamp for TPO free gel?

Not always, but check. New photoinitiators can need different wavelengths or curing times. Use the brand's recommended lamp or get written confirmation that yours is compatible.

Find what you need for your next step

If you are switching systems, you might be looking for new equipment or ready to pass on a lamp you no longer need. We help you sell equipment you no longer need and find quality used equipment through our classifieds. And if you want to stay ahead of changes like this one, you can find industry events where brands and educators share the latest guidance.