UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, DC 20460

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY
AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

Pet Spot-On Enhanced Reporting Pilot
Implementation

Registration Division
February 2018

SCOPE

This Pet Spot-On Enhanced Reporting Implementation document explains the need for the Pilot
program and provides a summary of the Pilot itself and a summary for the tiered approach to data
analysis. In addition, this document serves to describe the implementation process for using EPA's
standardized templates for submitting enhanced reporting and sales data which affects all Spot-On
products with registrations that require the submission of quarterly enhanced reporting.

BACKGROUND

In 2008-2009 a notable increase in the number of reports of adverse health effects from pet spot-on flea
and tick control products was identified in EPA's Incident Data System (IDS). The IDS system
incorporates data submitted by registrants under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) section 6 (a)(2) in aggregate form on a quarterly basis. Aggregate reports include information
such as the number of incidents reported per quarter, severity of incidents, and the products involved.

As a result of the increase, EPA required registrants of these products to submit enhanced incident data
for the year of 2008. Enhanced incident reporting includes more detailed information such as exposure
scenarios and associated clinical signs. The data were reviewed by EPA in 2009 with the resultant report
being released in 2010. As a result of the increased incident reports and data analysis, EPA responded
with mitigation measures including:

•	2-year time-limited conditional registrations

•	Label mitigation to clarify instructions for safe use and provide clear indicators to prevent
misuse

•	Limitation of Confidential Statements of Formulations (CSFs) to one formulation

•	Enhanced quarterly incident reporting with corresponding sales data

For additional and related information see EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and Plans
for Reducing Harmful Effects at https://www.epa.gov/pets/epa-evaluation-pet-spot-products-analysis-
and-plans-reducing-harmful-effects .

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Although these mitigation measures have been implemented, screening level analysis demonstrated
inconsistencies in the data submissions. Meaningful analysis of the data was not achievable with these
inconsistencies making it difficult to use for regulatory purposes. Lack of standard data fields, standard
terminology, and inconsistent formats are the deficiencies that facilitated the development of the Pet
Spot-On Enhanced Reporting Pilot.

PILOT SUMMARY

The objective of the Pilot was to determine if use of standardized enhanced incident reporting and sales
templates would provide the data in a format that could be more readily analyzed which would allow
the Agency to review incidents more efficiently providing the necessary information on which to act
should concerns be raised. In addition, through the Pilot, EPA sought feedback from Pilot participants
and other interested stakeholders on the usability and feasibility of the templates which was used to
modify the templates as needed.

The Pilot was introduced on the web in May of 20161 and via open stakeholder webinar in June of 20162.
EPA asked for up to nine volunteer registrants to submit one year of enhanced incident reporting data
using the draft standardized reporting templates. Five registrants volunteered to participate in the Pilot
program submitting data for the 2016 year using the draft excel-based templates.

The first data submission was made by August 29, 2016 which included data for Q1 and Q2 of 2016
(January-June 2016). A teleconference was held pre-submission to facilitate initial use of the templates
and post submission to exchange feedback regarding the templates. Individual webinars were also held
to provide a more individualized forum for each registrant to discuss concerns, feedback, and data sets.
The final data submission for Q3 and Q.4 of 2016 (July-December 2016) was made by February 28, 2017
completing the submission of one year of data using the draft templates provided by EPA.

Pilot results demonstrate that use of the standardized templates is feasible, and analysis by the health
Effects Division (HED) confirms that use of the templates does provide data in a format that can be
analyzed in a meaningful way.

introduction of Pilot on the web in May of 2016 https://archive.epa.gov/epa/pesticides/epa-plans-standardize-
manufacturers-enhanced-incident-reporting-pet-spot-products-seeks.html

2Open stakeholder webinar in June of 2016 https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/pilot-test-new-template-enhanced-
pet-spot-product-incident-reporting


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DATA ANALYSIS

As outlined in the Memorandum drafted by HED dated January 23, 2018, EPA will adopt a tiered
approach for this analysis as described below:

I ier	l);il;i Sou i cq	Descriplion

Level 0: Aggregate OPP's Incident Data Descriptive analysis will be performed using OPP's Incident Data
Incident Data System System	System (IDS). IDS captures data on domestic animal (pet) incidents

Query	received under FIFRA 6(a)(2) from registrants and is reported in

aggregate form on a quarterly basis. IDS data includes the number
of incidents reported for quarter, severity of the incidents, products
implicated, but does not include species or any narrative information
regarding exposure scenario or symptoms.

RORs will be calculated using enhanced reporting data to compare
the odds of a given outcome (or event) for one product to odds of
(same) outcome to another. This analysis will likely evaluate the
ROR of Death (or Death+Major) incidents for each product r.v. all
other products combined, by species.

IRRs will be calculated using enhanced reporting data to compare
the rate of a given outcome (or event) for one product to the rate of
(same) outcome to another. This will likely evaluate the IRR of
Death (or Death+Major) incidents for each product r.v, all other
products combined, by species. Rates will be estimated using sales
data submitted as part of enhanced reporting.

Level 3: Signal-Based Spot-on Enhanced This signal-based case-by-case review evaluates cases on an
Case-by-Case Review Reporting Data individual basis and incorporates information in the submitted
& Causality Analysis	narrative. This may involve investigating IRR on a symptom rather

than a product basis and may incorporate causality analysis.

Level 1: Reporting Spot-on Enhanced
Odds Ratio (ROR), by Reporting Data
Severity Outcome

Level 2: Incident Rate Spot-on Enhanced
Ratio (IRR), by	Reporting Data

Severity Outcome

EPA understands that - for all levels or tiers described above - that signals are signals only, representing
simple "disproportionalities" (sometimes referred to as SDR (signals of disproportionate reporting)).
Such signals are considered to be hypotheses and do not necessarily imply causal relationships between
the exposure and the health effect or outcome. Signal detection does not replace hands-on clinical
review of case reports and veterinary medical judgment. Also the limitations and biases associated with
reported data may limit utility, will require cautious interpretation. Nevertheless, EPA believes that the
methods described above and use of the newly-developed standardized incident reporting template-
will considerably improve the ability of the Agency to evaluate the data it receives and ensure the
continued safety of these products.


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IMPLEMENTATION

EPA is now inviting all pet spot-on registrants to adopt use of the standardized enhanced incident and
sales reporting templates for annual enhanced reporting. Submission of annual enhanced reporting
allows for a comprehensive analysis of data that complements the existing quarterly submission of 6
(a)(2) incident data, a requirement of FIFRA. EPA believes that submission of the enhanced reporting on
an annual basis is adequate because it will allow the Agency to assess trends in incidents over a
comparable period of time that is independent of seasonal shifts in usage. Seasonal shifts on the use
patterns of spot-on products will continue to be monitored through continued quarterly 6(a)(2)
reporting.

Registrants can request to change the condition of quarterly submission of enhanced incident reporting
to an annual submission by submitting the following to the appropriate Product Manager for the
product:

1.	Submit a current quarterly report using the EPA enhanced reporting and sales templates in
electronic format (CD), and

2.	Submit a cover letter formally requesting that EPA amend the conditions of registration from
quarterly submission of enhanced reporting to annual submission of enhanced reporting using
the new templates. The cover letter should include the following:

a.	All registration numbers included in the data submission

b.	EPA templates have been used for the current quarterly submission of enhanced
reporting.

c.	EPA templates will be used from this point forward for subsequent annual submissions
of enhanced reporting.

d.	No other changes to the registration are requested.

Once a request has been received, HED will verify that the submission has been made using the
provided templates, and that the templates have been utilized as intended. Upon verification, RD will
amend the registration to reflect annual submission of enhanced reporting using the template. The
registration will retain the current expiration date.

Questions regarding the Pilot can be directed to Julie Breeden-Alemi, DVM at 703-347-0511 or via email
at Breeden-Alemi.Julie@epa.gov.

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