Ingredient Index
Is Triphenyl Phosphate banned in Europe?
Yes, in cosmetics. The EU is prohibiting triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) in cosmetic products from 2027 after its scientists could not conclude it was safe. The US sets no cosmetic restriction, so it stays in nail polish there.
What the EU does
Banned in cosmetics, on a deadline. Regulation (EU) 2026/909, the second cosmetics "Omnibus" act, moves triphenyl phosphate to Annex II, the list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products. Non-compliant products cannot be placed on the EU market from 1 January 2027, and cannot be made available at all from 1 July 2028.
The trigger was not a positive finding of harm. In July 2024 the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reviewed TPHP and could not conclude it was safe, because the industry data were not enough to rule out genotoxicity and endocrine effects. Under the EU precautionary approach, a "cannot conclude" on a cosmetic ingredient points toward removal rather than a wait. Note that TPHP is also used as a flame retardant and plasticizer in plastics and foams, which this cosmetics rule does not touch.
Citation Regulation (EU) 2026/909 (cosmetics Omnibus 2), Annex II entry for triphenyl phosphate; SCCS opinion of 25 July 2024
What the US does
No restriction. The US does not limit triphenyl phosphate in cosmetics. It appears in nail polish as a plasticizer, often as a replacement for the phthalates that earlier reformulations removed, and avoidance is left to shoppers reading "free-of" marketing claims rather than to any federal rule.
The human-exposure signal that put TPHP on the map came from a 2015 Duke University and EWG study in Environment International: within 10 to 14 hours of a manicure, the women tested showed a roughly sevenfold rise in a urinary TPHP metabolite. That shows absorption, not harm at those doses, and the strongest real-world concern is repeated occupational exposure for salon workers rather than the occasional home manicure.
Citation No US cosmetic restriction on triphenyl phosphate; Mendelsohn et al., Environment International 2015 (urinary DPHP after nail-polish use)
Products that commonly contain it
TPHP shows up in and around the body mainly through:
- Nail polish and nail treatments, as a plasticizer
- Some cosmetics using it as a film former
- Flame-retardant foams, plastics, and electronics (a separate, non-cosmetic use)
- House dust, where flame-retardant TPHP accumulates
What to look for on a label
On a cosmetic label, TPHP is usually spelled out:
- Look for "triphenyl phosphate" or "TPHP" in a nail-polish ingredient list
- Some brands market themselves as TPHP-free or "nontoxic"; check the actual list
- After 2027, EU-market products should no longer contain it
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Frequently asked questions
Is triphenyl phosphate banned in Europe?
It is being banned in cosmetics. Regulation (EU) 2026/909 adds TPHP to the prohibited list, with products off the market from 2027. Its non-cosmetic uses as a flame retardant are not covered.
Is it restricted in the US?
No. The US sets no cosmetic limit on TPHP, so it remains in nail polish, and avoidance depends on brand "free-of" claims rather than a federal rule.
Does a manicure really expose you to it?
A 2015 study found a urinary TPHP metabolite rose sharply after using nail polish, which shows absorption. Harm at those doses is unproven; salon-worker exposure is the bigger question.
Related ingredients
Related reading
Primary sources
- Regulation (EU) 2026/909 (cosmetics Omnibus 2)
- SCCS opinion on triphenyl phosphate (July 2024)
- Mendelsohn et al., Environment International (2015)
Last reviewed October 1, 2026 · How we assign statuses