New plans to address the presence of chemicals from flea and tick
treatments in rivers and streams across the UK have been unveiled
today (Tuesday 22 July).
The initiative by the Cross-Government Pharmaceuticals in the
Environment (PiE) Group focuses primarily on two chemicals -
fipronil and imidacloprid - commonly used in topical parasite
treatments for pets. These medicines play an essential role in
protecting both animal and human health against fleas and ticks,
however there are growing concerns around the amount of fipronil
and imidacloprid finding its way into UK rivers and lakes .
The new roadmap outlines key actions to reduce levels of flea and
tick treatments in the environment while protecting animal
welfare - which includes commissioning research to better
understand this issue and using this evidence to support an
international review of environmental risk assessment guidelines
. The three key stages of the roadmap are:
-
Communication and Education (Short Term):
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) will collaborate
with veterinary professionals and industry stakeholders to
improve pet owner awareness about the appropriate use and
disposal of flea and tick treatments.
-
Evidence Gathering (Medium Term):
The group will build a comprehensive understanding of the
environmental impacts of these chemicals, alongside
evaluating potential consequences of changing use patterns on
animal and human health. The VMD has commissioned scientific
research investigating how these substances enter rivers and
streams and is working closely with the Environment Agency to
assess the environmental risks they pose.
-
Regulatory Actions (Long Term):
Based on the evidence collected, the PiE Group will support a
review of international environmental risk assessment
guidelines and consider future regulatory approaches to
mitigate environmental risks.
Defra Biosecurity Minister, said:
This Government is absolutely committed to restoring nature and
reducing harms posed by chemicals in the environment.
Our new Roadmap will develop a better understanding of the impact
of flea and tick treatments on the environment, while recognising
these treatments play a vital role in pet and human health.
Abigail Seager, Chief Executive Officer of the Veterinary
Medicines Directorate (VMD), said:
This roadmap represents an important step forward in ensuring
that the benefits of effective parasite control are maintained
while taking necessary actions to reduce environmental risks.
It reflects our commitment to an evidence-based approach, working
closely with partners across government to protect both animal
health and the environment.
Kelly Short, Environment Agency Chemicals Manager
said:
The launch of this roadmap is an important step in tackling the
presence of harmful chemicals like fipronil and imidacloprid in
our rivers and streams.
By improving public awareness, building the evidence base, and
working together to assess environmental risks, we can take
meaningful action to protect our water environment and the
wildlife that depends on it.
The PiE Group brings together key government bodies,
including the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Environment
Agency (EA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and representatives
from devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern
Ireland.
This collaborative initiative aims to develop a coordinated
strategy to reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals
from human, veterinary, agricultural, and non-agricultural
sources.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
-
The full roadmap is available at: Cross-government
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group Roadmap - GOV.UK
-
All flea and tick treatments authorised in the UK have
undergone an environmental risk assessment (ERA). This is a
requirement for all veterinary pharmaceuticals authorised by
the VMD. Currently, for pharmaceuticals for companion
animals, the ERA is limited to an exposure assessment, known
as a Phase I assessment. This is based on VICH (International
Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for
Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products)
guidelines. Due to environmental concerns, the VMD are
supporting a call for a review of the process for assessing
environmental risk from parasiticides for companion animals
at an international level and are gathering evidence to
inform future policy decisions.
