EPA begins more scrutiny of flea and tick products
Category Health | Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
WASHINGTON — Complaints of dogs and cats injured and sometimes even killed by flea treatments have increased significantly, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday as it outlined plans to make the products safer.
The EPA says it will develop stricter testing and evaluation requirements for flea and tick treatments that are applied to pets’ skin. The agency also will begin reviewing labels to determine which ones need to say more clearly how to use the products.
The EPA’s effort follows increasing complaints from pet owners that the “spot-on” products have triggered reactions in dogs and cats, ranging from skin irritation to neurological problems to deaths.