EU bans TPO nail gel from September 1 over health risks

The European Union will ban the use of nail gels containing the chemical TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) from 1 September 2025, citing its toxicity to reproduction and potential effects on fertility.

The decision, announced in May, gives the cosmetics industry only a few months to find safer alternatives.

Dermatologist Tania Vlacheni, director at the Andreas Syngros Hospital, explained to MEGA TV that TPO acts as a photoinitiator, helping the gel harden under UV light. “This material has been banned by the EU as toxic. Beyond its toxicity, it can also cause the nail to detach,” she warned.