The cosmetics industry regularly updates its regulations to keep standards current, and these are proactive, precautionary measures. This is not a product recall, and current products remain safe to use.
What has changed
TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide) has been reclassified under chemicals legislation as a substance hazardous to reproduction. Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, that classification automatically prohibits its use in cosmetic products, and the prohibition took effect across the EU and in Northern Ireland on 1 September 2025.
It is worth being clear about the basis for this. A hazard classification reflects how a substance might behave in a worst-case situation involving exposure to a very large amount, which is not how TPO is used in nail products. As the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association has confirmed, the amount used in nail products is over a thousand times below the level that could have any negative effect, and it is applied to the nail rather than the skin. The independent Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reviewed TPO in 2014 and concluded that its use in cosmetics was safe. The CTPA’s position is that the prohibition is based on extreme caution and does not mean that products containing TPO are unsafe.
Great Britain
In January 2026 the Office for Product Safety and Standards published the Statutory Instrument amending the annexes to the UK Cosmetics Regulations, confirming the timeline for Great Britain:
15 August 2026: products containing TPO must not be placed on the Great Britain market for the first time after this date. This is an obligation on manufacturers and importers.
14 February 2027: the final date for brands and distributors to sell through existing stock. After this date, nail professionals in Great Britain can no longer purchase products containing TPO.
Professionals in Great Britain may continue to use stock purchased before 14 February 2027 after that date, until it runs out. Northern Ireland follows the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so the September 2025 prohibition applies there rather than the Great Britain timeline.
What TPO does
TPO is a photoinitiator used in some gel formulations. It initiates polymerisation under UV or LED light, allowing the gel to cure and harden, and has been widely used in the nail industry for its low yellowing and broad UV absorption. Not all gel products contain it.
Our position by market
EU and Northern Ireland. Every product we sell in the EU and Northern Ireland is TPO-free and has been fully compliant since the prohibition took effect on 1 September 2025.
Great Britain. Our Great Britain range retained TPO formulations while they remained lawful here, and is now transitioning. Within BIAB, four formulas are currently in circulation: Original BIAB™, which contains TPO and HEMA; and TPO & HEMA-Free BIAB™, Fibre BIAB™ and Hard BIAB™, which contain neither. Because more than one formula is live, we publish a product-by-product list in our FAQ so you can see exactly what is in the product in front of you. We are working with our UK manufacturer on a reformulated Original BIAB™, and our full Great Britain range will be TPO-free ahead of 14 February 2027. Anything you have already purchased can continue to be used after that date.
United States and other markets. There are no restrictions on TPO currently in place. Our products comply with all applicable regulations in every market in which we sell, and we will keep customers informed if that position changes.
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article