At Pretty Yeppuda, we label all our products in compliance with the EU Cosmetic Product Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. Every label on our bottles contains essential information, including:

• The Responsible Person in the EU

• A complete INCI ingredient list

• Applicable warnings and usage instructions

• Additional mandatory product details

These labels are not just a formality—they serve an important purpose. We strongly recommend that you do not remove the labels, even if it’s tempting for aesthetic reasons. Here’s why:

• 💡 For your own safety: You may need to check the ingredients or instructions later.

• 📋 For regulatory compliance: If you’re ever inspected, having the label on the bottle is direct proof that your product is legally compliant.

• 👩🔬 To show professionalism: It demonstrates to your clients that you take both their health and your responsibilities seriously.

We understand that some customers prefer a cleaner look. If you absolutely want to remove the label, please consider one of the following options:

• 📸 Take a clear photo of the label before removing it

• 🗂 Stick the label into a dedicated product logbook

To help you stay organized, we’ve created a simple Product Purchase Log Template. It includes space for:

• Purchase date

• Supplier/store

• Product name and shade

• Space to attach or paste the label

➡️ Download the template [here] and print it for your salon or workspace.

Remember: Keeping proper records and labels is part of working safely and professionally in the nail industry.

 

If you have lots of products in stock, collected carefully over the years, and you find they all lookalike and they read like gibberish - we thought the below blog article might help.

As the September 2025 EU ban on TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) approaches, now is the time to inspect your current stock of gel polish, builder gels, and bases. Even if the product was imported legally in the past, it may no longer be compliant for use or resale under EU law.

🔍 What to Look For on the Ingredient List

Under EU cosmetics regulation, every product label must list its ingredients using official INCI names. For TPO, that INCI name is:

Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide

However, sometimes older or non-compliant products list TPO using informal or incorrect names, including:

• Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide
• (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)diphenylphosphine oxide
• 2,4,6-Trimethyl benzoyldiphenyl phosphine oxide
• Biphenyl(2,4,6-trimethyl-benzoyl)phosphine oxide
• Diphenyl phosphineoxide
• TPO
  

But there are many different names being used.  You might want to look here for an extensive list.

🛑 If you find any of these on your label, the product contains TPO and will be prohibited in the EU as of 1 September 2025, regardless of how small the percentage is.

What Are Legal Alternatives to TPO?

Several photoinitiators are already used in EU-compliant Korean gels. These offer similar performance while complying with EU safety and classification rules.  Some of these might sounds like TPO so hence we listed them below.

1. TPO-L (Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate)

• INCI: Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate (CAS number not completed in COSING at the time of writing this blog)
• CAS: 84434-11-7
  

Again several other names exist - which you can find here.

2. TMO (Trimethylbenzoyl Ditolylphosphine Oxide)

• INCI: Trimethylbenzoyl Ditolylphosphine Oxide
• CAS: 270586-78-2
• Also known as bis(4-methylphenyl)phosphoroso](2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)methanone - see ECHA

3. BAPO (BIS-TRIMETHYLBENZOYL PHENYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE)

• INCI: BIS-TRIMETHYLBENZOYL PHENYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE
• CAS: 162881-26-7
  

• Suitable for LED lamps operating at 365 nm and 405 nm

4. Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone

• INCI: Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone
• CAS: 947-19-3
  
• Long-standing photoinitiator used in both cosmetic and dental UV/LED applications.  Note that your lamp should preferably be 365nm (and 405nm)
  
• Often written as 1-Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone - which is the IUPAC name.

We hope this little overview helps you in identifying what products you can keep.  If you have questions regarding products on the site - do not hesitate to reach out.

 

At Pretty Yeppuda, we specialize in bringing the best Korean nail products to customers all over Europe. But before a product ever reaches your salon or your home, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. Because nail gels, bases, tops, and other products are considered cosmetics under EU law, they must meet strict safety and compliance rules before they can be sold.

In this blog post, we’ll explain, in simple terms, what happens from the moment we discover a great Korean nail product to the moment it is ready for you to buy — and why this process takes months, effort, and significant investment.

We wrote this blog because we often encounter customers or potential customers who believe that cosmetic products are automatically safety tested and controlled at the EU borders by the authorities. That is not the case.

In reality, it is the Responsible Person — usually the importer — who is legally responsible for ensuring the product’s safety and compliance with EU regulations.

At the border, customs authorities work hard to verify that products meet basic import requirements, but they do not perform stability testing nor toxicological safety assessments Their role is to check whether the importer complies with the necessary obligations, not to assess the safety of the product itself.

This also means that when you purchase cosmetic products directly from outside the EU, they have not been subjected to the required EU safety assessments. As a result, these products may contain substances that are restricted or banned under EU regulations, may have incomplete or incorrect ingredient labeling, and may not meet the strict safety and stability standards required for products legally sold within the EU.

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Step 1: Finding the Right Products

Our journey starts with selecting high-quality nail products from trusted Korean brands. We look for innovative products, beautiful colors, and safe, salon-proven formulations. But simply liking a product is not enough: we can only import and sell products that meet the European Cosmetic Product Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

This regulation lays out strict safety, labeling, and notification rules for any cosmetic sold in the EU.

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Step 2: Becoming the “Responsible Person”

When we import a nail product into Europe, we don’t just act as the seller. By law, we become the “Responsible Person” for that product in the EU.

This means we must ensure:

• The product safety is assessed by a cosmetic safety assessor

• It complies with all EU cosmetic laws.

• All necessary paperwork and tests are properly done.

The process starts for us with an initial scan of the manufacturer and the product formulations to see if there are no forbidden or restricted substances as that allows to eliminate the products immediately

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Step 3: Safety Assessment and Stability Testing

Before a product can be sold, it must be thoroughly assessed for safety. This involves two important steps:

1. Cosmetic Safety Assessment

A qualified safety assessor examines the product’s full formula, including each ingredient’s concentration, safety profile, and any potential risks.  That assessment is documented in a so called Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) Without this formal safety assessment, we cannot legally sell the product.

2. Stability Testing

We must also prove that the product remains safe and stable over time. For example, if a gel polish separates, hardens, or changes color after a few months, it could be ineffective.  Stability tests are performed for each product line and take approximately two months.

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Step 4: Building the Product Information File (PIF)

For each product, we must create and maintain a Product Information File (PIF). This file contains all important documents, including:

• Full product formulation

• Manufacturing information

• Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR)

• Labels and claims

• Test reports

The PIF must be kept available for 10 years after the last batch of the product is sold. If authorities ask for it, we must be able to provide it immediately.

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Step 5: Notification in the CPNP

Before a product can legally be sold in the EU, it must be registered in the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP), a secure online system managed by the European Commission.

When we submit a product to the CPNP, we provide:

• Product name and category

• Responsible Person’s contact details

• Full ingredient list

• Label information
  

Only after successful CPNP notification is the product officially allowed on the EU market.

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Step 6: Labeling

Labeling Compliance means:

• Ensuring the label has all mandatory information (e.g., Responsible Person, country of origin, ingredient list, warnings, batch number, PAO symbol, etc.)

• Mandatory warnings are included in the label

• Language requirements stipulate that the labels must be translated into the language(s) of the target EU market

 

Why It’s a Big Job (and Investment)

Importing one product line is already a lot of work — but Korean brands often have many different types of gels and finishes:

• Base gels

• Top gels

• Color gels

• Syrup gels

• Magnetic gels
  

• ...

Each different formulation requires its own safety assessment, testing, and CPNP notification.  Costs for a safety assessment and stability testing range between €500 and €1000 per product line.  Guess you can do the math...

If a product line (for example, a color gel collection) is based on one consistent formula, but simply offered in many shades (colors), we can register them all under a single notification — which saves time and money.  However, some brands create different formulations for different shades, meaning we must treat them as separate products. This significantly increases the cost and workload.

Korean products are also constantly evolving  seen their ongoing search for better products - the ongoing innovation is one strengths.  But this also means that safety assessments need to be done again, CPNP needs to be redone,...

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How Long Does It Take?

From the moment we decide to bring in a new product, the full compliance process typically takes 2-3 months:

• Gathering all technical documents from the manufacturer
  

• Performing safety assessments and stability tests

• Building the Product Information File

• Registering the product on the CPNP

Only after completing all these steps can we legally launch the product in our webshop.

Final Thoughts

At Pretty Yeppuda, we love introducing amazing Korean nail products to Europe — but it’s not as simple as picking a few nice colors.

Behind every bottle of gel polish, base coat, or nail art product you see on our website is months of work to ensure it meets the EU safety and compliance standards.

We think this is important for you and your clients' safety.

 

Korean nail products are globally admired for their innovation, vibrant colors, and lasting performance. For European nail technicians, incorporating these products into salon services offers a competitive edge. However, many professionals unknowingly place themselves—and their clients—at serious legal and health risk by ordering directly from non-EU suppliers.

Contrary to what many believe, the European Union does not perform safety assessments on cosmetic products. Responsibility lies entirely with the importer and their designated Responsible Person (RP). When you order directly from Korea or outside the EU, and use those products in your salon, you become the importer—and legally responsible.

This article explains why EU-based nail technicians should only purchase Korean nail products from a compliant EU webshop, and what is at stake when they don’t.

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1. EU Law: You Are the Importer and the Responsible Party

Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, all cosmetic products—including professional-use nail gels and builder gels—must:

• Be notified in the CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal)

• Have a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) by a qualified cosmetic safety assessor

• Be linked to an EU-based Responsible Person (RP) who ensures legal and toxicological compliance

• Be properly labeled with ingredients, batch numbers, and warnings in accordance with EU standards

When you buy from a non-EU website or import products personally, and use them on clients, you are the importer—and you also assume the role of the Responsible Person by default.

This means you are legally liable for:

• Ensuring a safety assessment was performed

• Correct labeling and traceability

• Adverse reactions or injuries caused by the product

If you cannot provide a CPSR or proof of CPNP notification during an inspection, you are using the product illegally under EU law.

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2. The Misconception: “The EU Takes Care of Safety”

Many technicians assume that if a product is on the market, it must already be tested and approved. This is a dangerous misunderstanding.

The EU does not evaluate cosmetic products before they reach the market. Instead:

• The importer must ensure a safety assessor has completed a CPSR

• A Responsible Person must register the product in the CPNP

• The product must comply with ingredient restrictions and labeling rules

When you order from a trusted EU-based webshop, these obligations are met. When you import yourself, no one is doing this work for you, and you are fully exposed—legally and professionally.

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3. The Real Risks for Nail Technicians Using Non-Compliant Products

Using non-notified and non-assessed products from outside the EU carries serious consequences:

Legal & Regulatory Risks

• You are using products illegally under EU law.

• If inspected by authorities, products can be confiscated, and you may face fines or formal warnings.

• In the event of a client injury, you may be held liable in civil court.

Insurance Invalidity

• Most professional liability insurance policies require that products used are compliant with EU regulations.

• If your product was not notified and assessed, your insurance might not cover damage or injury.

• You could be personally responsible for legal costs, medical bills, and compensation.

Health Hazards

• Imported cosmetic products that are not properly notified or safety assessed according to EU regulations may contain substances restricted or banned in the EU due to allergenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic concerns.

• Without proper labeling or batch tracking, you cannot trace ingredients or respond to adverse effects.

• Improperly formulated products can cause permanent allergies, skin sensitization, and chemical burns—not only for clients, but for you as the technician too.

Over time, sensitization from repeated exposure can mean you are no longer able to work with nail products at all—a career-ending health outcome.

 

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4. Korean nail products sold from a trusted EU webshop must be:

• CPNP-notified products, as required by law

• Products underwent a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) by a certified cosmetic safety assessor

• A clearly designated EU-based Responsible Person (RP) who ensures regulatory compliance

• Products are correctly labeled in the official EU language(s), with the required warnings and ingredients

• In the event of an incident, you can prove you used a legally placed product—protecting you in front of authorities and insurance companies

 

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5. Even If You’re Just Starting Out—It Matters

Even beginner or part-time nail techs using products on friends or for training purposes are not exempt:

• If someone reacts badly to a non-compliant product, you are liable

• You may not be able to get insurance at all without proving the use of registered, compliant products

• Using illegal or misbranded products can damage your professional reputation, client trust, and ultimately your business growth

 

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Conclusion: Your Safety, Clients, and Career Deserve Protection

Korean nail products are powerful tools for creativity and client satisfaction—but only when they are legally placed and professionally assessed. As a nail technician in the EU, your clients’ safety, your legal liability, and your insurance coverage all depend on using compliant products.

By purchasing from a trusted EU-based webshop, you protect:

• Yourself from exposure to hazardous substances

• Your clients from health risks

• Your business from legal and financial loss

Hope to have informed you sufficiently, but feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.