Overview

• Effective Sept. 1, 2025, the EU prohibits placing or making available cosmetic products containing TPO, requiring salons to withdraw and dispose of existing stock with no sell-through.
• Manufacturers are reformulating with alternative photoinitiators such as TPO-L, BAPO and methyl benzoylformate, and brands are beginning to market TPO‑free options.
• Industry groups and consultants contest the ban’s evidentiary basis and warn of economic losses, while EU guidance notes alternatives exist so exemptions were not defensible.
• The restriction applies only to cosmetic uses and is mirrored in countries that follow EU rules such as Norway and Switzerland, with the UK on a later timeline reported for late 2026.
• TPO-containing gel polishes remain legal in the U.S., though companies selling globally may align formulas, and experts suggest concerned clients request TPO‑free products or choose UV‑free options.