CMA veterinary proposals: practical steps for UK vets

In October 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed a series of measures to reform the UK’s veterinary services market, following its provisional findings that highlighted concerns about competition in the sector. The recommendations include improving price transparency and increasing choice for pet owners.

The CMA subsequently launched a public consultation on these proposals, which closed on 14 November 2025.

For more information on the CMA’s role and the purpose of this investigation, see our earlier article here.

Key issues in the UK veterinary market

The CMA identified three core issues in the veterinary services market:

1. Lack of timely information – pet owners often don’t receive clear details on costs, treatments, medicines and practice differences
2. Barriers to choice, including limited redress options, delays in receiving prescriptions and difficulties in changing veterinary providers
3. An out-of-date regulatory system that’s not fit for purpose.

Proposed changes for veterinary practices

To improve competition and empower pet owners, the CMA’s proposals for veterinary practices include:

• Mandatory disclosure of practice ownership and standard service prices – this information will initially appear on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon’s (RCVS) ‘Find a Vet’ website
• Written estimates for treatments over £500 (inclusive of aftercare) and itemised bills for transparency
• Clear prescribing policies, including same-day written prescriptions, capped fees (£16) and enabling pet owners to buy medicine online where ongoing medication is required
• Transparent pricing for pet care plans and cremation options
• A robust complaints system that meets stipulated criteria
• Restrictions on out-of-hours providers from imposing unreasonably long termination periods in their contracts with practices
• Written policies and processes to help veterinary professionals act in accordance with the RCVS Codes of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses
• A modernised regulatory framework increasing the role and remit of the RCVS.

What should veterinary practices do now?

The consultation has now closed, and we await confirmation on whether the proposals will be implemented as drafted or amended following feedback.

From a commercial perspective, practices should start preparing now so that any final rules become ‘business as usual’ rather than a disruptive overhaul.

Here are five practical steps:

1. Review contracts: audit out-of-hours and key supplier agreements to remove overly restrictive termination and notice clauses. Develop a renewal playbook with approved fallback positions
2. Update policies and training: adopt a single prescribing and advice policy, refresh client-facing scripts and website content and deliver role-based training for consistent communication across all sites
3. Strengthen governance: appoint a practice-level compliance lead and develop an implementation plan with milestones, accountabilities and defined workstreams – particularly around pricing transparency, prescriptions, ownership disclosures, complaints and contracts.
4. Upgrade systems and processes: configure practice management software to prompt estimates and itemised billing, enable same-day prescription processing where clinically appropriate and support standardised website updates for pricing and ownership information
5. Monitor and report: establish a central log and dashboard to track key indicators, such as prescription turnaround times and website pricing accuracy. Report regularly to the practice lead and take remedial action where needed.

Taking these measures early will facilitate a smoother transition in line with the CMA’s proposals, reduce compliance risk and spread implementation costs over time.

Looking ahead

While any amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons Act will take time to be passed and implemented, practices should ensure their complaints policy remains active and accessible. Veterinary professionals must also continue to meet the standards set out in the RCVS Code to minimise the risk of complaints.

Early preparation will make compliance smoother, reduce risk and position your practice as transparent and customer focused.