The EU has banned a key ingredient in nail gel polish sparking panic for some manicurists who have been ordered to immediately abandon their stock.

Without trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide or TPO, or its equivalents, gel polish wouldn’t harden or dry when put under a UV lamp.

But now it has been classified as dangerous to workers and customers.

The Metro dives into how the ban will affect your next manicure.

What has happened?

From 1 September 2025,all 27 EU member states have prohibited the use and sale of the chemical trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, or TPO.

The ban is seen as a precautionary measure, as scientists haven’t found any risk to humans, so far.

The EU classified TPO as a CMR Category 1B substance (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction).

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