CMA final guidance

What the CMA expects veterinary practices to do

The CMA has finished the investigation and published its final report on 24 March 2026. The remedies are now moving into the order-making phase, so this page focuses on the confirmed direction of travel and the timings pet owners and practices should watch.

Summary of final remedies

Publish clear price lists for defined services, including consultations, diagnostics, prescriptions, and cremation options.
Show ownership information clearly online, on signage, and in communications where practices are part of a group.
Tell clients that written prescriptions are available and cap prescription fees at GBP21 for the first medicine and GBP12.50 for extras from the same consultation.
Provide written estimates for treatment pathways likely to cost GBP500 or more, followed by itemised bills.

What practices should prepare

The CMA's business guidance groups the changes into ownership and price transparency, treatment information, medicines, out-of-hours arrangements, cremation options, and complaints. Larger businesses generally face earlier deadlines, so group-owned practices should expect website, signage, estimate, prescription, and complaint-process updates before smaller independents.

Timeline

24 March 2026
The CMA published its final report and confirmed the remedies package.
September 2026 (planned)
The CMA timetable says the substantive remedies order and RCVS undertaking should be finalised by 23 September 2026.
December 2026 to September 2027
Compliance then rolls out in phases, with larger groups generally changing first and some data-sharing obligations landing later.