TPO Ban: What the UK and EU Restrictions Mean for India
Sri Vijaya Puram | August 24, 2026 The United Kingdom has introduced restrictions on cosmetics containing Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO) , a photoinitiator commonly used in UV- and LED-cured gel nail products. The move follows the European Union , which prohibited TPO in cosmetics from September 2025 after its classification as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant . The restrictions have raised questions among nail professionals and consumers in India, where TPO-containing gel polishes and related products continue to be available. The UK restrictions do not ban gel manicures or UV/LED nail products as a category . Instead, they concern cosmetic products containing TPO. Existing stocks are also subject to transitional provisions under the UK's regulatory framework. In India, however, there is currently no evidence of a comparable blanket ban specifically prohibiting TPO in cosmetics . India's cosmetic products are regulated under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 , a...