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Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

The Funding Order and RCVS funding undertakings were published on 20 August 2026. The substantive remedies Order and related RCVS undertakings were still being finalised as of this review (statutory deadline 23 September 2026). Where later compliance dates are planned rather than in force, we say so.

Dates

Implementation timeline

Milestones below are maintained as structured data so we can update them as CMA Orders, RCVS undertakings, and compliance windows progress. Planned items are not yet legally in force for every business.

Vet Price Comparison is an independent UK comparison service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, operated by, or part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) or the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Status meanings: Completed events are published history; In progress covers the current Order-making window; Planned dates come from CMA guidance and may move if official timetables change.

Related: what is changing · RCVS price information

  1. 2013–2020

    CompletedEveryone

    Rapid consolidation in the sector

    Large corporate groups accelerated practice acquisitions. The CMA intervened in several mergers during this period.

    Source: GOV.UK — Veterinary services market for pets — CMA case hub

  2. 7 September 2023

    CompletedEveryone

    CMA opens work on household pet veterinary services

    The CMA began examining the veterinary services market for household pets, gathering evidence on prices, ownership, and consumer outcomes.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  3. 23 May 2024

    CompletedEveryone

    Full market investigation referred

    Following consultation, the CMA decided to make a market investigation reference into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the UK, with compulsory information-gathering powers.

    Source: GOV.UK — Veterinary services market for pets — CMA case hub

  4. 24 March 2026

    CompletedEveryone

    Final report and remedies package published

    The CMA published its final decision report, confirming an integrated remedies package on transparency, medicines, treatment information, ownership, complaints, and RCVS-supported comparison data.

    Source: CMA — Veterinary services for household pets: final decision report

  5. 21 July – 20 August 2026

    CompletedEveryone

    Draft substantive Order and RCVS Undertakings consulted

    The CMA published draft substantive Order text and draft RCVS Undertakings for formal consultation. The consultation closed on 20 August 2026; as of mid-September 2026 GOV.UK still showed feedback being analysed and no final substantive Order published.

    Source: CMA — Consultation: draft substantive Order and RCVS Undertakings

  6. 20 August 2026

    CompletedVet practices

    Funding Order and RCVS funding undertakings published

    The CMA published the final Funding Order and RCVS funding undertakings requiring relevant veterinary businesses to fund certain RCVS activities linked to the remedies package.

    Source: CMA — Veterinary Services Market Investigation (Funding) Order 2026 and RCVS (Funding) Undertakings 2026

  7. By 23 September 2026 (planned)

    In progressEveryone

    Substantive Order and RCVS undertakings expected

    The CMA’s statutory deadline for implementing remedial action is 23 September 2026 (extendable by up to four months for special reasons under the Enterprise Act). Case-hub timetable: finalise and make the substantive remedies Order and accept the RCVS Undertaking in August–September 2026. As of 14 September 2026 the final substantive Order had not yet appeared on the case hub.

    Source: GOV.UK — Veterinary services market for pets — CMA case hub

  8. December 2026 (planned)

    PlannedVet practices

    Larger businesses — early transparency compliance

    CMA business guidance indicates larger businesses (generally 15 or more first-opinion practices) need to comply with key ownership and price-transparency remedies from December 2026, once the Order is in place. Exact obligations follow the final Order text.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  9. March 2027 (planned)

    PlannedVet practices

    Smaller businesses — transparency compliance

    Smaller businesses generally have longer to comply with the same transparency package. Groups also face ownership-transparency timing called out separately in CMA guidance.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  10. March 2027 (planned)

    PlannedVet practices

    Larger businesses — prescription fee cap

    CMA guidance lists March 2027 for larger businesses to comply with the written prescription fee cap (£21 for the first medicine in a consultation; £12.50 for each additional medicine in the same consultation, inclusive of VAT, with annual CPI adjustment planned).

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  11. June 2027 (planned)

    PlannedRCVS

    RCVS enhanced Find a Vet readiness

    CMA guidance states the RCVS should modify Find a Vet and be ready to accept practice data by June 2027. Until then, enhanced central publication should be treated as forthcoming, not live.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  12. June 2027 (planned)

    PlannedVet practices

    Larger businesses — written estimates and itemised bills

    Written estimates for treatment pathways reasonably likely to cost £500 or more (including VAT), plus itemised billing, are scheduled later in the rollout for larger businesses.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  13. September 2027 (planned)

    PlannedEveryone

    Businesses supply data to RCVS for comparison

    Practices are expected to provide key information (including prices) to the RCVS for publication via an enhanced Find a Vet service and for sharing with approved third parties under stated restrictions.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

  14. September 2027 (planned)

    PlannedVet practices

    Smaller businesses — written estimates and itemised bills

    Smaller businesses are generally given longer than larger groups to implement written estimates and itemised bills.

    Source: CMA — What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report

Primary sources

Regulatory claims on this hub are based on CMA and GOV.UK publications. Open the originals to verify dates and legal text.