CMA publishes advice to DEFRA on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

Following the publication of its final report on veterinary services for household pets, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has now issued formal advice to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

The CMA’s advice reinforces the case for legislative reform to bring veterinary businesses within the scope of independent regulation, rather than only regulating individual veterinary surgeons, as is currently the case.

The existing regulatory framework dates back some 60 years, when the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 was designed for an era in which most practices were owned and operated by individual vets or small partnerships. As the CMA’s market investigation highlighted, the sector has since undergone significant structural change, with large corporate groups now accounting for a substantial share of first opinion and referral practices across the UK.

The advice recommends that any reformed legislation should enable an independent regulator to hold veterinary businesses directly accountable for compliance with standards relating to transparency, clinical governance and consumer protection. This aligns with the remedies imposed in the CMA’s final decision, which require significant changes to business practices but are currently enforceable only through the CMA’s own Order-making powers, rather than through joined-up veterinary sector regulation.

Veterinary businesses should monitor DEFRA’s response to this advice closely. If legislative reform proceeds as recommended, it’s likely to introduce a new layer of ongoing regulatory oversight that goes beyond the time-limited remedies in the CMA Order.

Businesses that invest now in robust compliance frameworks, particularly in relation to pricing transparency, clinical freedom protections and ownership disclosure, will be better placed to meet any future statutory requirements.

Our veterinary sector specialists can advise on all aspects of compliance with both the CMA’s existing Order and any future regulatory requirements arising from reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.