Nail Salons Across UK Now Banned From Selling Certain Gel Products Under New Rules
Regulators say the rule targets TPO only, while gel manicures and other UV-cured nail treatments remain legal with compliant formulations.
- On Saturday, August 15, 2026, Great Britain enforced a ban on cosmetic products containing TPO, though gel manicures and BIAB treatments remain legal if using compliant, TPO-free formulations.
- The Mandatory Classification List added TPO as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant in February 2025, prompting the ban based on 'sufficient scientific evidence' of a 'potential risk to human health'.
- Caroline Rainsford, director of science at The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, noted the ban addresses 'worst case' exposure scenarios, adding that TPO levels in nail products are 'over a thousand times less' than amounts affecting fertility.
- Manufacturers and importers cannot newly place TPO-containing products on the Great Britain market from August 15, 2026, though retailers may continue selling existing stock until February 14, 2027.
- Richard Knight, Trading Standards Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty, urged the public to report suspected illegal products via the Citizens' Advice Consumer Helpline, while Northern Ireland continues following EU Cosmetics Regulation.
21 Articles
21 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Gel nail ban: What it means and what has changed
A key ingredient that makes manicures more durable has been banned
TPO in nail gel is considered a hormone disruptor and can endanger fertility. Great Britain pulls the tear line – with a surprising exception.
Is Gel Nail Polish Banned in the UK? The Truth About the New TPO Rules
A new UK restriction on a chemical used in some gel nail products has come into effect, leading to widespread claims that gel manicures themselves have been banned. However, the rules introduced on 15 August 2026 apply only to trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), a photoinitiator that helps gel and builder products cure under UV or LED lamps. According to reports, gel manicures, BIAB and other UV-cured nail treatments remain legal in …
Why are gel nails now banned in UK?
A new UK regulation targeting a chemical used in some gel nail products has come into force, prompting confusion among consumers who have been led to believe that gel manicures themselves are being banned. The new rules, which took effect on 15 August 2026, prohibit the placing of new cosmetic products containing trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) on the market in Great Britain. TPO is a photoinitiator commonly used in some UV- and L…
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