TPO in EU Nail Products: What Salons Need to Know

TPO, listed in cosmetic ingredients as Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, has been prohibited in EU cosmetic products since 1 September 2025. For nail salons, this is not only a purchasing rule: it also affects professional use on clients.

What about bottles bought before the ban?

The European Commission services’ TPO questions and answers state that professionals cannot use TPO-containing cosmetics on clients from that date, regardless of when the products were purchased.

The guidance also explains that there is no sell-through or use-up provision for this restriction. Remaining stock cannot simply be sold at a discount or given away in commercial activity.

Check the exact product

• Review the full ingredient list, not only the collection name.
• Identify the batch and product version where needed.
• Ask the supplier to clarify unclear or incomplete information.
• Remove non-compliant products from professional use and follow appropriate disposal guidance.

Do not assume that two similarly named photoinitiators are the same substance, or that every product in a range has an identical formula.

TPO-free is not the whole safety assessment

A TPO-free product still requires appropriate EU compliance, correct professional handling, and its own curing protocol. Reformulation is not a reason to keep an old lamp schedule without confirmation.

When replacing stock, obtain current instructions and retain supplier information. This overview concerns the EU and reflects the cited guidance; check current official requirements and local authority instructions when making a compliance decision.