The UK government has unveiled plans to address the presence of pesticides, originating in pet treatments for fleas and ticks, in waterways across the UK.
The initiative focuses on two pesticides – fipronil and imidacloprid – which are frequently found in shampoos, spot-on treatments or impregnated collar flea treatments for cats and dogs, but have been detected in UK rivers and lakes at levels that are high enough to pose a threat to aquatic organisms.
It is hoped that the roadmap – which has three key stages covering the short, medium and long term – will help reduce the presence of these chemicals in the environment while also protecting animal welfare.
The three stages include communication and education to help improve pet owner awareness of the appropriate use and disposal of flea and tick treatments; gathering evidence to build a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts of the chemicals and the consequences of changing use patterns on animal and human health; and reviewing international environmental risk assessment guidelines and consideration of future regulatory approaches to minimise these risks.
‘This government is absolutely committed to restoring nature and reducing harms posed by chemicals in the environment,’ said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs biosecurity minister Sue Hayman. ‘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.’
Earlier this year, an investigation found that the nests of songbirds had been contaminated with fipronil and imidacloprid and that they were linked to a higher chance of eggs failing to hatch and chicks dying in the nest. Multiple studies have also raised concerns that the chemicals could harm pollinators such as bees. In 2013, the EU severely restricted the use of both fipronil and imidacloprid, and in 2019 the European Commission banned them altogether.
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