Morocco bans TPO in cosmetics due to health concerns
This move underscores a commitment to consumer safety and follows global trends in regulating potentially dangerous chemicals in personal care products.
MOROCCO – The Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMMPS) has officially banned the use of Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO) in cosmetic products, particularly those used in nail care, such as UV-curing nail gels and polishes.
This ban is comprehensive, covering the marketing, manufacturing, importation, distribution, and use of all cosmetics containing TPO, and it became effective immediately.
The decision by AMMPS is grounded in a rigorous toxicological review of the substance’s safety profile and aligns Morocco with recent regulatory actions taken in the European Union, which implemented a similar ban under Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/877 as of September 1, 2025.
TPO, commonly used as a photo-initiator to harden gel nail products under UV or LED lamps, has been identified as potentially harmful due to its adverse health effects, including risks of toxicity upon repeated exposure.
Scientific studies and health evaluations reveal that TPO can penetrate the skin and circulate systemically, leading to concerns such as contact dermatitis, skin irritation, eczema around the nails, and significant weakening of the nail plate, which may result in partial or total nail loss.
Furthermore, the substance has been classified as a category B1 reproductive toxicant in the European regulatory framework, indicating its potential for carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxicity effects.
AMMPS has communicated this ban clearly to healthcare professionals, beauty industry stakeholders, and consumers, urging immediate cessation of TPO-containing products by beauty practitioners and advising consumers to scrutinize the ingredients of their nail care products to avoid health risks.
This regulatory move is considered a public health measure aimed at protecting Moroccan consumers by harmonizing national regulations with international safety standards and mitigating exposure to hazardous cosmetic ingredients.
Meanwhile, Washington recently became the first state in the United States to impose a comprehensive ban on formaldehyde and all formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in beauty products and cosmetics.
This ban builds on the state’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA), adopted in 2023, which already prohibited formaldehyde in cosmetics as of January 2025.
The recent adoption extends the ban to 25 formaldehyde-releasing chemicals found in various personal care products, including shampoos, nail polishes, eyelash glues, and hair treatments, effective as of January 1, 2027.
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