The EU banned TPO in gel polish: where ASEAN and Thailand stand, and label tips
The EU banned TPO in cosmetics from 1 September 2025; as of October 2026 the ASEAN list and Thai rules still allow it with limits. Rules, reasons and the label name.
- TPO helps gel harden under a lamp. The EU banned it in cosmetics from 1 September 2025 after classifying it as a category 1B reproductive toxicant.
- As of October 2026, the ASEAN cosmetic list and Thai rules still treat TPO as restricted, up to 5% in artificial nail systems, not as banned.
- The label name to look for is Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. Match the full name exactly.
- A TPO-free gel still contains acrylates that can cause allergy. Keeping gel off skin matters just as much.
Since 1 September 2025 the European Union has banned TPO in all cosmetics, which includes gel polish cured under a lamp. Salons in Europe had to stop using it immediately, with no period to sell off old stock. But as of October 2026 the ASEAN cosmetic list and Thailand’s own rules still treat TPO as “allowed with conditions”, not banned. This article sums up what each set of rules says, why the EU acted, and how to find the substance on a label.
What TPO is and why it is in gel
TPO stands for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. It is a photoinitiator: it absorbs light from the lamp and kicks off the reaction that turns liquid gel into a hard layer. As our article on UV and LED lamps explains, different gels need different light, partly because they use different photoinitiators. TPO is one of the widely used ones.
In the EU, TPO used to be a restricted ingredient. In 2014 the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) judged it safe at up to 5.0% in professional nail products.
Why the EU banned it
Here is the timeline as Ireland’s regulator, the HPRA, sets it out.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2014 | SCCS: up to 5.0% in professional nail products |
| 2020 | Swedish authorities raise further concerns |
| Sep 2021 | Classified as CMR category 1B (toxic to reproduction) |
| Oct 2023 | Made law in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/197 |
| May 2025 | Regulation (EU) 2025/877 moves TPO to the banned list (Annex II) |
| 1 Sep 2025 | Ban applies, no transition period |
Under EU rules, a substance classified as CMR 1B (possibly carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction) is automatically banned from cosmetics unless someone applies for an exemption and meets the conditions. Nobody applied for TPO, so the ban is total. The classification rests on animal studies, not on cases seen in people who wear gel.
The EU ban is a precautionary decision. It does not mean anyone was found to be harmed by the gel on their nails.
According to the European Commission’s Q&A, the ban covers placing products on the market, distributing them and using them in salons. Salons must take existing stock out of use and find alternatives.
ASEAN and Thailand as of October 2026
ASEAN member states share the ingredient lists of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. One version that is easy to read is Singapore’s, in force since 1 November 2023, which lists TPO as entry 336 on the restricted list:
- Field of use: artificial nail systems
- Maximum concentration: 5.0%
- Condition: professional use
- Label warnings: for professional use only; avoid skin contact; read directions for use carefully
In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health notification on the names, amounts and conditions of ingredients that may be used in cosmetics (No. 7) B.E. 2567, dated 7 March 2024, lists TPO at up to 5% in artificial nail systems. We also opened the newer Thai notifications of prohibited ingredients published by the Thai FDA, No. 5 (dated 28 November 2025) and No. 6 (dated 18 May 2026). TPO is not in them.
In plain terms: as of October 2026 we found no Thai ban on TPO. Cosmetic rules change often, so if you sell or import gel, check with the Thai FDA regularly.
The three sets of rules side by side
| European Union | ASEAN list | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPO status | Banned | Restricted | Restricted |
| Limit | Not allowed at all | 5.0% | 5% |
| Allowed in | - | Artificial nail systems | Artificial nail systems |
| Since | 1 Sep 2025 | Singapore example: 1 Nov 2023 | Notification dated 7 Mar 2024 |
Worked example: what 5% means in one bottle
Say a bottle holds 10 grams of gel and the percentage is by weight (made-up numbers, just to picture it).
- 5% of 10 grams = 10 × 0.05 = 0.5 grams
- In Thailand or Singapore, this bottle may contain up to 0.5 grams of TPO, if it is labelled and used under the conditions.
- In the EU, the same bottle may contain 0 grams, however small the amount.
An ingredient list tells you what is in a product but not how much, so the label cannot tell you how many grams of TPO a bottle contains.
How to find TPO on a label
- Find the ingredient list on the box or bottle. If there is none at all, that is a bad sign.
- Look for the full name Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, every word, or the long chemical name Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide.
- If a name starts the same but the words do not match, do not assume it is the same substance. If unsure, send the manufacturer a photo of the label and ask.
- Read the warnings. “For professional use only” means the formula is meant for trained users, not for doing your own nails at home.
For reading cosmetic labels in general, see reading a cosmetic ingredient list.
Common mistakes
- Thinking TPO-free means risk-free. Gel still contains acrylates that can cause allergy, and the main risk is still liquid gel on skin. See gel nail allergy.
- Thinking the EU banned gel nails. Only products containing TPO are banned. Other gel formulas are still on sale.
- Panicking and peeling gel off. Peeling thins the nail. If you want it off, soak it off as in removing gel safely.
- Looking only for the abbreviation. “TPO” is not always printed on the label. Look for the full name used in official documents.
- Using professional gel at home carelessly. The “avoid skin contact” warning is there because the risk is on the skin.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
The EU’s concern is about reproduction. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or do nails for a living and handle gel every day, practical options are: choose gels without TPO on the ingredient list, wear nitrile gloves while working, keep the room well ventilated, and talk to your doctor about anything specific to you. This article is general information, not medical advice.
The next article in this series looks at gels labelled HEMA-free, and a test that found they can still cause allergies.
Sources
- TPO in nail products: questions and answers — European Commission
- TPO prohibited in cosmetics from 1 September 2025 — HPRA (Ireland)
- Health Products (Cosmetic Products — ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2023 — Singapore Statutes Online
- Cosmetic laws (prohibited and restricted ingredient notifications) — Thai FDA Cosmetics Control Division
- Why has the EU banned a key chemical in gel nail products? — Chemistry World
FAQ
Has Thailand banned gel containing TPO?
As of October 2026 we checked the notifications published by the Thai FDA cosmetics division and found no ban. The Ministry of Public Health notification on restricted ingredients (No. 7) B.E. 2567 still allows up to 5% in artificial nail systems. Rules change, so for an official answer ask the Thai FDA directly.
I already have TPO gel on my nails. Should I remove it now?
The EU rules cover selling and using products. They say nothing about nails that are already done. If you are worried, remove it at your usual time, properly, without peeling. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you can ask your doctor.
Can I trust a TPO-free label?
Read the ingredient list yourself. If Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide is not there, it matches the claim. But a European test has found wrong or incomplete ingredient lists on gels, so buy from sellers who name the manufacturer clearly.
General guidance. Products differ between brands: always follow the label. If you react to a product, see a doctor.