Why gel nail polish is now banned in Europe starting today but not in the US

Gel nails are hugely popular, but did you know that the European Union has just banned an ingredient commonly found in the polish?

Gel nail varnish has become a popular staple for many, thanks to its anti-chipping and anti-peeling qualities - and the fact it dries so quickly.

However, a chemical found in some gel nail varnishes, called trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide - or TPO - has now been completely prohibited in the EU.

TPO creates a glossy appearance and helps the nails dry in super quick time under a UV lamp.

Not all gel nail polishes contain TPO, however, those that do will now have to rethink their ingredients after the EU labeled the chemical as 'carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction'.

Meanwhile, salons stocking any products containing the chemical will have to remove it from their stock.

While the ban came into force on September 1, after studies found it could 'adversely affect reproductive health', some experts believe it has been 'banned out of caution'.

An ingredient found in gel nails has now been banned in the EU (Getty Stock Photo)

Speaking to Wellness Pulse, dermatologist Dr Hannah Kopelman explained: “The European Union is banning it out of caution, since even though we don’t yet have large-scale human studies proving harm, the potential risks were enough to warrant stricter regulation.

“From a medical perspective, I view this as more of a precautionary move rather than a response to strong human evidence.”

The ban is not in place in the US (Getty Stock Photo)

TPO has not been banned in the US, with salons still allowed to stock the product in maximum concentrations of 5 percent.

Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos told TODAY.com that the US Food and Drug Administration are unlikely to ban them because the EU tends to take a different approach to the US.

However, the New York Post report that some customers can request TPO-free products.

Meanwhile, it's also still available in the UK, although Britain is considering introducing a ban in 2026.

The ban could be extended into the UK by next year (Getty Stock Photo)

The EU announced the decision to ban TPO back in May 2024. Many manufacturers started removing the chemical from their products after it emerged that the ingredient would be prohibited.

The Gel Bottle said in a statement: "The cosmetics industry frequently undergoes regulatory updates to protect consumer safety and wellbeing.

"These updates are proactive measures, ensuring products remain compliant with the latest scientific research and safety standards. This is not a product recall, current products remain safe to use.

"We are pleased to confirm that 100% of The Gel Bottle products sold in the EU are now fully TPO-free and compliant with the September 2025 regulation.

"We are actively transitioning all products to new TPO-free formulations, with reformulated versions already rolling out. We expect the entire range to be fully TPO-free ahead of the UK regulatory deadline (Sep 2026)."