Defra shares spot-on treatment warning amid call for evidence
Defra advocates the 'Plan, Apply, Protect' approach.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned pet owners about the use of flea and tick treatments, as part of a national campaign to protect the UK’s waterways.
Through its monitoring of the waterways, the Environment Agency has reported significant levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in the UK’s waterways. Their presence was at levels which could harm aquatic insects such as mayflies and dragonflies.
Further research, funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, revealed these substances were entering waterways through wastewater and pets swimming in natural bodies of water.
Defra has called on pet owners to use the medicine correctly to ensure they work effectively and reduce harm to the environment. It is promoting the ‘Plan, Apply, Protect’ approach to limit environmental impact of spot-on treatments.
The ‘plan’ stage requires pet owners to apply spot-on treatments when they won’t be in close contact with their pet, such as before bed or work. If they need to wash their pet, they should do so before applying medicine, rather than afterwards.
When they ‘apply’ the treatment, pet owners should follow manufacturer instructions and apply the medicine to the directly to the skin, and not the fur.
Finally, pet owners should ‘protect’ the environment by practising caution after applying the medicine. They should not touch the application area until it is dry, let their pet swim for four days after application or leave pet fur out for nesting birds.
Pet owners should also bin any used pipettes and ask their medicine supplier about returning unused or expired medicine.
The advice comes amid a ‘Call for Evidence’ from the VMD, as it reviews whether professional advice should be required at the point of sale. The consultation open on 16 April 2026, and will close on 11 June 2026.
Abigail Seager, the VMD’s chief executive officer, said: “Flea and tick spot-ons are an important way to protect both human and animal health, but these substances are reaching our waterways.
“Today we are giving people the practical information they need to get the most out of their pet's treatment while helping protect our waterways. We are proud to be working with partners across the veterinary and retail sectors to spread that message as widely as possible.”
Image © Chutima Chaochaiya/Shutterstock.com
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
