Regulatory Updates on Flea Control Products
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Beginning is 2008 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noted a substantial increase of reported harm to pets from the use of spot-on flea and tick control products. As a result, in 2009 the agency issued an advisory on approximately 70 flea control products and began a process of intensive review. In many of the reported poisoning incidents, pets experienced effects such as skin irritation, skin burns, or seizures and death. The EPA’s analysis of these products called out special areas of concern for puppies, small-breed dogs, and cats. The biggest concern for cats was found to be harm from the use of the more concentrated products intended for dogs.
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In 2010, the EPA announced a plan to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control by making changes to product labels and developing more protective testing and evaluation requirements for both new and existing products. As a result, some products were removed from the market altogether.
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In early 2014 the EPA reached agreement with Sergeant’s Pet Care Product’s, Inc. and Wellmark International to cancel flea and tick collars containing propoxur marketed under the trade names Bansect, Sentry, Zodiac and Biospot. This came in response to the EPA’s risk assessment, which found risks to children from exposure to pet collars containing propoxur. However, as recently as 2021, illnesses and deaths have continued to be a concern surrounding the use of many flea and tick control products.
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REFERENCES:
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University of California, Davis IPM Online: Pests of homes, structures, people and pets.
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Purdue University, Department of Entomology: Information on disease hazards posed by cat fleas and other types of fleas
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National Pesticide Information Center: Provides objective, science-based information about flea control pesticides and other control methods to facilitate informed decisions.
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US Environmental Protection Agency: