A cross-party committee in the House of Lords has called for restrictions on the sale of pet flea treatments, citing concerns about their environmental impact. The committee's inquiry found that the widespread availability and use of spot-on parasiticides, currently sold in supermarkets and online, pose potential threats to natural ecosystems.
The House of Lords environment committee recommended that only veterinary professionals, pharmacists, and other qualified individuals should be authorized to sell these treatments. Pet owners should also be advised to adopt a precautionary approach to their use.
The committee's report highlighted evidence suggesting that monthly application of these treatments, often advised for dogs and cats, is not consistently supported by robust scientific evidence and may be harming the environment. Some veterinarians reportedly do not treat their own pets monthly, instead opting for regular grooming with flea combs and applying treatments only when parasites are detected.
Concerns were raised about the presence of common active ingredients like fipronil and imidacloprid in UK waterways. High volumes of these chemicals have been detected in streams and rivers, leading to the death of aquatic life and impacting wildlife higher up the food chain. These same chemicals have previously been banned for agricultural pesticide use due to their adverse effects on wildlife, such as bees.
The committee also noted that limited information is available regarding the environmental impacts of newer chemicals, including isoxazolines, used in some treatments.
The government has stated that it is continuing to assess the availability of these treatments to ensure their correct usage by pet owners.