Over the counter flea and tick treatments could become less accessible for lower-income households under potential medicine reclassification proposals, according to new independent research. The nationwide study, commissioned by Johnson’s Veterinary Products, evaluated responses from 2,001 UK cat and dog owners regarding potential structural regulatory changes to general sales list veterinary medicines. The data indicates that restricting open retail access to companion animal parasite control would disproportionately impact financially vulnerable households, leading to reduced preventative healthcare compliance and decreased footfall across independent high street pet shops.
The research, conducted by Censuswide, highlights a notable disparity in consumer attitudes based on household earnings. Only 19.7 per cent of respondents earning under £15,000 annually support the introduction of mandatory veterinary consultations for routine parasite products, compared to 36 per cent of households earning over £75,000. Furthermore, nearly a quarter of lower-income respondents indicated that additional professional fees would cause them to reduce treatment frequency or stop preventative parasite management entirely, while 11.4 per cent stated they might seek alternative, unregulated distribution channels.
The commercial impact extends directly to the wider retail sector, as under a third of UK pet owners currently purchase parasite treatments exclusively from veterinary practices. Approximately 29.94 per cent of consumers rely on local pet shops and specialised pet superstores for these products. The survey results show that 43 per cent of pet owners would reduce their overall visits to local pet retailers if over the counter treatments were removed from store shelves, posing a wider commercial threat to high street businesses that rely on routine healthcare purchases to drive store footfall.
Commenting on the financial implications for animal parasite control accessibility, Nick Franks, Director of Johnson’s Veterinary Products Ltd, stated that this data makes it clear that those on lower incomes, those without easy access to a vet, and those already stretched by the cost of living are strongly opposed to reclassification changes away from general over the counter sales. He noted that the people most comfortable with the idea of an extra consultation fee are those who can most easily afford one.
Mr Franks further highlighted that this affordability concern is directly borne out in the behavioural data collected across the UK. Among the lowest-income group surveyed, only 59 per cent of pet owners said they would continue treating their pets as usual if reclassification occurred, compared with 71 per cent of those earning over £75,000. He warned that nearly one in four pet owners indicated reclassification would cause them to treat their pets less frequently or stop altogether.
Based on the survey findings, more than twice as many UK pet owners support maintaining open retail access alongside enhanced responsible use guidance over a mandatory professional consultation model. Johnson’s Veterinary Products has formally submitted the data to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, requesting a full assessment of the socioeconomic impact before any regulatory updates are finalised.
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Dan Everett