Large veterinary businesses in the UK, defined as those with 15 or more practices, are now subject to the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026. This legally binding order, published in September 2026, aims to help pet owners navigate the veterinary services market more effectively.
The CMA has outlined five deadlines for compliance, extending through September 2027. Requirements coming into effect by the next working day after 22 December 2026 include publishing practice information, a price list for defined services, and a price list for commonly sold parasiticides.
For practice information, businesses must display staff qualifications, professional accreditations, and details of any outsourced out-of-hours care on their websites and premises. Price lists must be published online and at premises, detailing typical prices for 36 defined services, presented by standardised pet characteristics where applicable. Pet owners confirming a consultation booking via digital communication must also receive the consultation price and a link to the full price list.
Further requirements, such as clearly displaying group or network ownership information on websites, signage, and communications, will come into effect by the next working day after 22 March 2027.