This press notice was updated on 6^th March 2025 to clarify information about the Veterinary Medicines Directorate support for a proposed review of guidelines for assessing the environmental risks of companion animal veterinary medicines.

Government support proposed review of safety assessment for pet flea treatments, amid biodiversity concerns. 

• The charity SongBird Survival and scientists from University of Sussex welcome update from government that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate support a proposed review of the environmental risk assessment of veterinary drugs, but want to see a timeframe for the review.
• Call comes after University of Sussex research found harmful chemicals from flea treatments in bird nests. 

The Government’s Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has stated to the charity SongBird Survival that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) now support a review of environmental risk assessment guidelines for companion animal parasiticides, such as pet flea and tick treatments. The VMD follows internationally recognised guidelines for assessing the environmental risks of companion animal veterinary medicines. Defra said that a review of these guidelines has recently been proposed with the VMD’s full support.  

This comes after research by University of Sussex, funded by SongBird Survival, found high levels of harmful chemicals from pet flea and tick treatment in bird’s nests lined with animal fur, leading to an increased mortality rate of chicks. 100% of nests contained the pesticide fipronil, commonly found in ‘spot on’ flea treatments for dogs and cats, which was banned in the EU for agricultural use in 2013. 

Susan Morgan, Chief Executive of SongBird Survival, says:  

"It is a positive step by the Government to support a proposed review into how they assess the safety of flea and tick treatments for pets, humans and wildlife. The pesticide fipronil found in these treatments is polluting rivers and is now linked to increased chick deaths in bird nests. We now need a clear timeframe for when this review will happen." 

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Dr Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, Research Fellow at the University of Sussex and lead author of the research on pesticides and bird nests says: 

“Our research recommended a more comprehensive review of the environmental safety assessment for veterinary drugs, after we found insecticides in 100% of tested blue tit and great tit nests. Veterinary flea and tick treatments are the most likely source of contamination.”

Professor Dave Goulson at the University of Sussex added:

“The environmental impacts of drugs used on pets have been overlooked for too long. There is an urgent need to evaluate the pros and cons of alternatives so that pet owners can be advised as to the most sustainable option.”

-ENDS-

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Notes to editors 

• For more information, please contact Helen Deakin, SongBird Survival pr@songbird-survival.org.uk at SongBird Survival or Lauren Ellis, University of Sussex Lauren.Ellis@sussex.ac.uk . 
• The research paper by the University of Sussex is available here.
• Accompanying images of blue tits and great tits are available here. ‍
• About the University of Sussex 
  Over more than six decades the University of Sussex has developed a reputation for thinking differently, challenging convention and fostering critical thinking. International from the start, Sussex has built a global community of over 200,000 staff, students and alumni from over 170 countries, who share a commitment to making the world a better place. Our research and teaching are curiosity-driven, addressing the most important issues of our time and finding solutions to environmental, scientific, social and technological challenges. From scientific discovery to global policy, from student wellbeing to career development, Sussex innovates and takes a lead. Today, in every part of society and across the world, you will find someone from Sussex making an original and valuable contribution to positive social change. sussex.ac.uk   ‍
• About SongBird Survival 
  SongBird Survival is an independent charity working to change the future of songbirds by funding research into the causes of the decline and creating solutions. More than half of our UK songbirds are threatened or already in decline. SongBird Survival commissioned a research project with the University of Sussex funding two PhD students to understand pesticide use and how it may affect our UK songbird species. For more information visit: https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/categories/birds-and-pesticides