View noticesReport flags wildlife and health risks from routine pet parasite treatments
A UK House of Lords committee has called for tighter restrictions on flea and tick treatments for pets, warning that routine use may be unnecessary, potentially risky to human health and damaging to wildlife.
In a report published by the Environment and Climate Change Committee, peers said pet owners should not treat animals for parasites unless there is a genuine need, and urged that such products be sold only after consultation with a vet, pharmacist or qualified pet shop staff.
The committee said the main concern is that pet parasite treatments have not undergone rigorous environmental assessment before approval. It said regulators have long assumed the products are safe, but that assumption is now being challenged by emerging evidence, New Scientist reports.
The report highlighted concerns over two pesticides commonly found in spot-on flea and tick treatments – fipronil and imidacloprid – which have been detected in UK rivers at levels high enough to affect wildlife. According to the committee, the chemicals can break down into substances that may be even more harmful.
It also said there is insufficient evidence to determine whether pet parasite medicines pose a risk to human health, and raised questions about the independence of regulators, suggesting they may be too influenced by industry.
While the report focuses on the UK, the committee and experts cited in the inquiry said the issue is global, noting that the same products are sold widely in other markets.
The report recommended a more precautionary approach, including minimising use until independent research clarifies the environmental and health risks. It also suggested packaging should carry clearer warnings, and said dogs should not be bathed for 28 days after treatment, rather than the four days currently advised.
Experts cited in the report said the move toward newer isoxazoline-based treatments may reduce water contamination, but these products could also present environmental risks if they accumulate in soil and sewage sludge.
SOURCE: New Scientist