Nail salon owners angry at Brussels

Nail salon owners are angry at Brussels.

Across Switzerland and the EU, they must suddenly stop using products containing TPO, a chemical long relied on in gels and varnishes. The rule change leaves shelves empty and stocks headed for the trash. 

Some small salons say they’ve lost thousands of francs overnight.

TPO was widely used because it helps polish harden under UV lamps. But Brussels has now classified it as toxic for reproduction and banned it without delay.

Experts say the main risk is for professionals handling liquid products daily, less so for clients. For the industry, the abrupt ban feels like a tough blow.

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play