The British Veterinary Association (BVA), which represents more than 19,000 individual vets across the UK, has responded as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) publishes its Final Orders following its two and half year investigation into veterinary services for household pets.
The Final Orders come into effect from today, Tuesday 22 September 2026, with individual remedies coming into force in the coming months.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams FRCVS said: “We’ll need to scrutinise the details of the CMA’s final orders but at first glance vet practices are for the most part already complying, particularly around estimates for routine procedures, handling complaints and written prescriptions. As vets, the trust our clients place in us to care for their animals is paramount and the orders provide a valuable opportunity to standardise our approach across the sector, which will strengthen this important relationship.
“We’ve been clear with the CMA throughout its investigation that it must ensure its remedies need to be proportionate and workable for practices of all sizes and ownership models and we’ve pushed back where we’ve had concerns.
“The CMA has backed our calls for urgent reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, including the introduction of regulation of vet businesses, and we urge the Government to rapidly progress its White Paper published in July, so vets and animal owners can have renewed confidence in robust veterinary legislation.”
