CMA: New Veterinary Services Order Undertakings 2026 Mandate Transparency

• The Competition and Markets Authority has introduced the CMA Veterinary Services Order Undertakings 2026 following an investigation into household pet veterinary services.
• The new regulations aim to remove competition barriers and improve transparency for pet owners.
• Key requirements include mandated price lists, standard written prescription notices, flyers for ongoing medication, and a structured complaint log.
• The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has also accepted undertakings and will be involved in monitoring compliance through a dedicated proposal and flowchart.
• An Explanatory Note details the Order's operation, with further compliance guidance for veterinary businesses expected soon.

Legal professionals advising UK veterinary businesses must thoroughly review the CMA Veterinary Services Order Undertakings 2026 to ensure their clients are prepared for these new requirements.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has introduced a significant new regulatory framework for the UK veterinary sector, following its comprehensive market investigation into services for household pets. This initiative culminates in the CMA Veterinary Services Order Undertakings 2026, a dual set of directives designed to foster greater competition and enhance transparency for pet owners across the country. This move underscores a concerted effort by the Competition and Markets Authority veterinary division to address identified market deficiencies and ensure a fairer, more open environment for consumers.

The core objective behind these new measures is to dismantle existing barriers to competition within the veterinary services market. Simultaneously, the regulations aim to significantly improve the clarity and accessibility of information provided to pet owners, empowering them to make more informed decisions regarding their animals' care. This strategic intervention by the CMA is set to reshape operational standards for veterinary businesses throughout the UK.

Central to the new framework is the Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026, a detailed 58-page document outlining specific requirements for veterinary practices. This Order is accompanied by an equally important set of directives, the Veterinary Services Market Investigation Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Undertakings 2026, which spans 19 pages and details commitments from the professional body. Together, these documents establish a robust compliance landscape for the sector, forming the backbone of new UK pet veterinary regulations.

The Order mandates several key transparency measures. Veterinary businesses must now adhere to specific requirements for displaying price information, as detailed in Schedule 1, which includes a 2-page price list schedule and a 5-page indicative price list in Annex 1. Furthermore, practices are required to provide a standard written prescription notice, outlined in Schedule 2, a 2-page document ensuring clarity around medication. For ongoing treatments, a standard flyer for ongoing medication, specified in Schedule 3 (171 KB, 2 pages), must be issued. Finally, to enhance accountability, a structured complaint log, provided as an MS Excel Spreadsheet (22.4 KB) in Schedule 4, must be maintained. These provisions are critical for improving CMA veterinary competition transparency.

To assist veterinary businesses in understanding and implementing these new regulations, an extensive 58-page Explanatory Note to the Order has been published, detailing its operational mechanics. This document is crucial for veterinary business compliance UK. The CMA has also indicated that an updated explainer will soon be made available, specifically tailored to guide veterinary practices on the necessary steps to achieve full compliance with the Order.

Legal professionals advising UK veterinary businesses must thoroughly review the CMA Veterinary Services Order Undertakings 2026 to ensure their clients are prepared for these new requirements. Compliance officers within veterinary practices should proactively prepare to integrate these mandates, including the maintenance of mandated price lists and comprehensive complaint logs, to avoid potential enforcement actions. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) also plays a monitoring role, as evidenced by its 4-page monitoring proposal and a 2-page monitoring flowchart, ensuring adherence to the UK pet veterinary regulations.

Lawyers advising UK veterinary businesses must review the CMA's 2026 Order and Undertakings to ensure client compliance with new competition and transparency requirements, including mandated price lists and complaint logs. Compliance officers in veterinary practices should prepare to implement these new regulations to avoid enforcement action.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK guidance.