Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 24, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has finalized reforms requiring veterinary businesses to enhance price transparency, cap prescription fees, and disclose ownership. Written cost estimates, itemized bills and visible pricing must be in place by September 23, 2026.
March 24 (Reuters) - Britain's veterinary services will be required to implement price transparency measures, cap prescription fees, while large chains will have to disclose their ownership, the competition watchdog said on Tuesday, as it moved to shake up the 6.7-billion-pound ($9 billion) sector.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) final reforms, which mark the end of its two-and-a-half-year probe into the sector, followed proposals it set out last October to overhaul the country's vet services market.
Vet group CVS Group said some of the CMA's remedies were not "fully justified", but added it was comfortable with them and believes they are workable.
Here are some details on the new rules.
($1 = 0.7448 pounds)
(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru)
Veterinary businesses must publish comprehensive price lists for standard services and clearly disclose whether they are part of a chain or independent.
Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for additional medicines, reduced from current fees of £30 or more.
All remedies will be in place by September 23, 2026, with most taking effect within three to twelve months after the CMA orders businesses to comply.
Veterinary businesses must clearly display whether they are part of a chain or independent, ensuring pet owners are informed about ownership.
Practices must provide written estimates in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more, including itemised bills.
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