The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has made its CMA vet pricing reforms legally binding, publishing the Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026 and setting a December deadline for larger practices to begin displaying standardised prices and clearer cost information to pet owners.
The CMA describes the package as the biggest reform of veterinary services in a generation. Its market investigation found that many pet owners lacked the basic information needed to make informed decisions about the services they were buying, and that weak competition in the sector was leading to poorer outcomes for consumers.
What the CMA vet pricing reforms require from December
From 22 December this year, larger vet businesses must publish clear price lists and provide transparent breakdowns of pet care plans. Pet owners will be entitled to know in advance what they will pay for an out-of-hours emergency, and practices must present all end-of-life options equally, including home burial and cremation, with prices provided before any decisions are made.
The order also makes it easier for practices to switch out-of-hours provider, rather than being locked into a contract, which the CMA says will allow them to offer better quality and value. For the first time, pet owners will also be entitled to see who owns a practice and to compare prices for common medicines and treatments across practices.
According to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), large service providers must publish information on prices, parasiticide prices, pet care plans, written policies and processes, and cremation services by December 2026. Smaller providers have until March 2027 to meet those same obligations.
Further reforms will be phased in across March, June and September next year. These cover prescription fees, in-house complaints processes, written estimates and itemised bills. The RCVS confirms that requirements for prescription price caps, written estimates and itemised bills will come into force from March 2027 onwards, with the exact timing depending on the size of the veterinary business.
Smaller vet firms have longer to bring in the initial changes too, but must have everything in place by December next year.
What this means in practice for pet owners
Martin Coleman, chairman of the independent Inquiry Group, said: ‘Today marks a significant milestone in the biggest reform of veterinary services in a generation. Our reforms are now law and will make a difference to the millions of pet owners across the UK.’
Coleman added: ‘By the end of this year, many pet owners will know upfront the cost of basic services like consultations and vaccinations and receive clear breakdowns of pet care plans. More changes will follow in the coming months, for example, pet owners will receive written estimates in advance for higher cost treatments. Our package of reforms will help pet owners better manage their budget and care for their pets, strengthen competition and improve trust in the veterinary sector.’
The ability to compare prices for common medicines across practices is one of the more practical changes for everyday pet owners. At present, many people do not realise they can ask their vet for a written prescription and then buy medicines from an alternative supplier, potentially at a lower cost. Under the reforms, practices will be required to give owners clear information about this option, and a cap on written prescription fees will apply for the first time.
Rob Williams, president of the British Veterinary Association, said practices are ‘for the most part already complying, particularly around estimates for routine procedures, handling complaints and written prescriptions.’ He described the orders as ‘a valuable opportunity to standardise our approach across the sector, which will strengthen this important relationship.’
Sue Davies, head of consumer rights policy at Which?, welcomed the order but stressed its limits. ‘Too many pet owners who have had a poor experience with their vet feel that the system is stacked against them,’ she said. Davies called the conclusion of the investigation ‘a positive milestone which should stop pet owners getting ripped off by overpriced medicines, hidden fees and unclear pricing.’ She also argued that current legislation regulating the veterinary market is ‘seriously outdated’ and called on the Government to press ahead with an independent regulator and a dedicated veterinary ombudsman to handle complaints and protect pet owners.
The CMA vet pricing reforms apply across the UK. Pet owners who want to check whether their practice falls into the larger or smaller provider category ahead of the December deadline can look for updates on the RCVS website, which has published its own response to the order.
