“The substance can cause serious health problems,” says Amalie Gravelle.
She’s an adviser at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and helps create regulations for cosmetics.
The banned substance is called TPO, and it can be harmful to the body. It can increase the risk of cancer, damage our genetic material, and make it harder to have children.
“TPO has therefore been banned to protect both consumers and professionals,” says Gravelle.
The new regulation applies in the EU and Norway – but only for businesses, such as nail salons.
…
Share this article
“If you’re going to buy products from countries outside the EU, you should carefully check the ingredient list,” says Gravelle.
TPO is an abbreviation, so you may need to look closely for the full name on the packaging: Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide.
Public health nurse Andersen says it’s easy to get hold of cheap nail polish from outside Europe.
“Many people probably don’t know what they have at home in their cupboards,” she says.
