For Immediate Release / February 29, 2024
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General issued a report today that related to Seresto pet collars. This evaluation was conducted in response to multiple hotline complaints alleging the Seresto collar harmed family pets. In the report, the OIG concluded that the EPA’s response to Seresto pet collar‑related incidents has not provided assurance that the collars can be used without causing unreasonable adverse effects on pet health and the environment.
The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs did not conduct or publish domestic animal risk assessments as part of the registration review process for the active ingredients in Seresto pet collars as it had committed to do. It also did not expressly determine whether the pet collars pose an unreasonable risk to pet health.
Additionally, the EPA’s Pesticide Incident Reporting System does not capture adequate data to assess unreasonable adverse effects of pet products. For many of the reported pet fatalities, critical details were missing, which prevented the Agency from determining the cause of the pet deaths.
Further, the Agency did not provide an opportunity for public comment when taking action to approve the pet collar. Although the EPA has limited registration approval to five years and will continue to evaluate incidents over that period, the Agency needs to improve assessments of adverse effects to pet health and update inadequate animal safety guidelines to align with international standards.
“EPA product registration signals to the public that this product has undergone rigorous scrutiny and is deemed safe for public use,” said Inspector General Sean W. O’Donnell. “Registration reviews must be conducted at the highest standard to safeguard public trust and protect human health, pet health, and the environment.”
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About the EPA OIG
The OIG is an independent office within the EPA that performs audits, evaluations, and investigations of the EPA and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. For more information, visit our website and follow the OIG on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Anyone with knowledge of potential waste, fraud, or abuse relating to EPA operations and programs is encouraged to report it to the OIG Hotline at (888) 546-8740 or OIG.Hotline@epa.gov.