EPA to evaluate restrictions for spot-on flea and tick products

Washington

-- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will evaluate whether further restrictions are warranted due to a "sharp increase" in incidents from spot-on flea-and-tick products.

The EPA advisory says that adverse reactions reported from the spot-on products range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and death.

More than 44,000 potential incidents associated with registered spot-on products were reported in 2008, EPA says. No cause-and-effect relationship between the products and any adverse reaction has been confirmed.

Agency officials are collecting, compiling and reviewing all available data "to make better decisions to reduce risks and target other regulatory activities," the advisory says.

Click here for the full EPA advisory.