The CMA vet review, for pet owners

Almost nothing has changed at your vet's yet. The Competition and Markets Authority published its binding Order on 22 September 2026, and as of 2 November 2026 the only requirement its guidance lists as in effect concerns contracts with out-of-hours providers. The parts you'll notice start after 22 December 2026 and run until late 2027.

This is my reading of the CMA's report summary, press notice and October 2026 guidance to vet businesses. It isn't legal advice. The Order itself is the final word.

Why the CMA stepped in

The CMA opened its review in September 2023, moved to a full market investigation in May 2024 and published its final report in March 2026. The CMA found average prices rose 63% between January 2016 and December 2023, against 32% for general inflation. Its survey found 43% of owners got price information before their most recent non-routine treatment. Six large groups own or part-own over 60% of practices, and only 47% of their customers who took the survey knew it.

It puts the harm at around £1 billion over 5 years, based largely on the large groups' profits. Don't read that as a saving headed for your account.

What starts when

A large business here has 15 or more practices. Each date below means the next working day after it.

Prices on the RCVS Find a Vet site come last: 22 September 2027 at the earliest, or later if the regulator's web form isn't ready. That's the comparison tool, and it's nearly a year off.

The price list

It covers 36 standard services, split by up to 6 pet and weight categories. The price must be the typical one for a standard case, and the list has to warn that complicated cases can cost more. So it's a starting figure. The confirmation message for a consultation booking must also give that consultation's price and link to the list.

In 2025 the CMA found over 40% of practices showed no prices on their websites at all.

Written estimates

This is the change I'd watch. If a course of treatment is reasonably likely to reach £500 or more with VAT, and at least 20% of that is still to come, the practice must give you a written estimate before you decide. Another is due if the likely cost climbs by 20% or £500, whichever is lower.

There are limits. Urgent cases are exempt where delay would harm the pet. The estimate isn't binding. The CMA says about 20% of treatments claimed on insurance over 12 months reached £500.

Medicines and prescriptions

The cap is £21.40 for the first medicine on a written prescription and £12.70 for each additional one, VAT included. The CMA's March report said £21 and £12.50, so older articles may quote those. The current figures hold until 31 March 2028 and then follow inflation.

The fee matters because of medicine prices. The CMA found commonly prescribed medicines typically cost 50% to 60% less at online pharmacies, and that many owners could save around £200 to £300 a year. Only 26% of owners with a pet on ongoing medication bought it from an online pharmacy. Once the rules apply, vets must offer a written prescription in each consultation where they prescribe, unless the medicine is needed urgently. You can ask for one today, though no cap protects you yet. Whether a medicine suits your pet stays a question for your vet.

Complaints and cremation

Practices must try to settle a complaint informally. After 10 working days it becomes formal: written acknowledgement within 5 more working days, and a full response within 8 weeks. After that they must take part in mediation if you want it, and the outcome isn't binding unless both sides accept it.

On cremation, the CMA thinks owners may pay around £100 more for individual cremations than strong competition would allow. Practices will have to offer a basic communal option and price it up front.

What it doesn't do

It doesn't cap treatment prices. The CMA considered a price control and decided against one, apart from prescription fees, so any fall in bills has to come through competition. The CMA also backs government plans to rewrite the law on veterinary regulation, and that's separate from this Order. The CMA says plainly that owners shouldn't take their frustration out on individual vets.

For what this means in pounds now, see what a routine vet year costs. If you're weighing cover against bills like these, read lifetime vs time-limited pet cover. The pet cost calculator lets you swap in your own practice's prices when they appear.