Based on the CMA final decision report
CMA vet reforms and timeline
Clear summary of what is changing for pet owners, including pricing transparency, prescription fee caps, ownership disclosure, written estimates, itemised bills and complaints rules.
Quick answers
Key reforms at a glance. Dates are expected from when the CMA Order is in place unless stated otherwise.
Pricing online
Vet businesses are expected to publish standard price lists for defined services.
Expected timing: From 3 months after Order (large); 6 months (small)
Prescription cap
Written prescription fees capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional medicine in the same consultation.
Expected timing: From 6 months (large); 12 months (small)
Ownership clarity
Vet groups must clearly show who owns or controls a practice.
Expected timing: From 6 months after Order (all groups)
Written estimates
Written estimates required for treatment pathways likely to cost £500 or more including VAT.
Expected timing: From 9 months (large); 12 months (small)
Itemised bills
Practices must provide itemised bills so owners can see how charges break down.
Expected timing: From 9 months (large); 12 months (small)
Complaints route
Written in-house complaint processes and mediation routes should become available for unresolved complaints.
Expected timing: From 6 months after Order
What is changing?
Plain-English summary of the main reforms for pet owners.
Pricing and comparison
- Practices must publish standard price lists for defined services.
- Basic practice information must be clear, including out-of-hours care and qualifications.
- Key practice data should be shared with the RCVS for Find a Vet and approved third parties.
Ownership transparency
- Vet businesses must clearly display ownership information online, in premises, signage and communications where required.
- This should help pet owners see who owns or controls a practice.
Prescriptions and medicines
- Pet owners should be told they can request a written prescription.
- Digital prescriptions should be issued within 48 hours, or hard copy by the end of consultation where relevant.
- Prescription fees are capped; this does not cap medicine or consultation fees.
Treatment choices and bills
- Written estimates are required for pathways likely to cost £500+ including VAT.
- Itemised bills must be provided.
- Policies should support impartial advice from veterinary professionals.
Out-of-hours contracts
- Out-of-hours contract notice periods over 12 months become unenforceable when the Order is in place.
- OOH providers have three months to inform practices of contract changes.
Cremation choices
- Pet owners should see end-of-life options clearly.
- Communal cremation must be offered as an option.
- Pricing information for cremation should be clear upfront.
Complaints and redress
- Practices must have written in-house complaint processes meeting minimum criteria.
- Mediation should be available where complaints are not resolved in-house.
- The RCVS is expected to publish annual complaints insights from September 2028.
Implementation timeline
Expected implementation dates based on CMA guidance; final legal wording may depend on the CMA Order.
September 2026CMA Order expected / RCVS undertakings acceptedApplies to: CMA / RCVSRCVS / regulatorOut-of-hoursComplaints
The CMA Order/undertakings are expected by 23 September 2026. Out-of-hours contract notice periods over 12 months become unenforceable immediately when the Order is in place.
Why it matters: This is the legal starting point, not when all consumer-facing changes appear at once.
3 months after OrderLarge provider pricing and transparency dutiesApplies to: Large vet providers; OOH providersPricingCremationsOut-of-hours
Large providers (15+ first-opinion practices) must comply with basic info, price lists, parasiticides, pet care plans, cremation and clinical-freedom policies. OOH providers must inform practices within three months.
Why it matters: This is likely the first major point when large vet chains should become more comparable online.
Expected requirements
- Basic practice information
- Standard price lists
- Parasiticide price lists
- Pet care plan information
- Cremation information and communal cremation
- Written clinical-freedom policies
6 months after OrderSmall provider duties and ownership transparencyApplies to: Small providers; all groups; all providers (complaints)PricingOwnershipPrescriptionsComplaintsCremations
Small providers must meet many pricing and transparency duties. All vet groups must comply with ownership transparency. Large providers must comply with the written prescription fee cap. Complaint processes and mediation routes should be in place.
Why it matters: Broader pricing transparency and clearer ownership information should become visible for more pet owners.
Expected requirements
- Small providers: basic info, price lists, parasiticides, pet care plans, cremation
- All groups: ownership transparency
- All providers: in-house complaints and mediation
- Large providers: prescription fee cap (£21 / £12.50)
9 months after OrderEstimates, bills and medicines (large providers)Applies to: Large vet providers; RCVSTreatment choicesPrescriptionsRCVS / regulator
RCVS should be ready to accept practice data for enhanced Find a Vet. Large providers must provide written estimates, itemised bills, and remaining prescription and medicines transparency requirements.
Why it matters: Owners should receive clearer estimates and bills from larger providers, especially for higher-cost treatment.
12 months after OrderEstimates, bills and medicines (small providers)Applies to: Small vet providers; RCVSTreatment choicesPrescriptionsRCVS / regulator
Businesses must provide key practice data to the RCVS. Small providers must comply with written estimates, itemised bills, and all prescription and medicines transparency requirements.
Why it matters: Smaller practices should catch up on later-stage prescription, medicine and estimate requirements.
24 months after UndertakingFirst RCVS complaints insights reportApplies to: RCVSComplaintsRCVS / regulator
The RCVS is expected to publish its first annual complaints insights report.
Why it matters: This could give pet owners and researchers more visibility over complaints patterns in the sector.
What pet owners should do now
- Ask for prices before booking routine treatment.
- Ask who owns the practice if it is unclear.
- Ask for a written estimate for treatment likely to cost £500+ including VAT.
- Ask for an itemised bill and keep estimates.
- Ask about written prescriptions and compare medicine prices.
- Compare local vets where WisePet has data.
- Keep written records if making a complaint.
Practical transparency guidance, not medical or legal advice.
What changes when?
Large provider: 15 or more first-opinion practices. Small provider: fewer than 15 first-opinion practices.
| Reform | Large providers | Small providers | RCVS / others | What this means for pet owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard online price lists | 3 months after Order | 6 months after Order | — | Easier to compare routine and common service prices online. |
| Parasiticide price lists | 3 months after Order | 6 months after Order | — | Clearer prices for flea, tick and worming products where prescribed. |
| Pet care plan information | 3 months after Order | 6 months after Order | — | Plans should show what is included and how savings are calculated. |
| Ownership transparency | 6 months after Order | 6 months after Order | All groups | Clearer information about who owns or operates a practice. |
| Written prescription fee cap | 6 months after Order | 12 months after Order | — | Caps the fee for issuing a written prescription, not medicine or consultation fees. |
| Written estimates and itemised bills | 9 months after Order | 12 months after Order | — | Clearer upfront costs and breakdowns for higher-value treatment. |
| Prescription and medicines transparency | 9 months after Order | 12 months after Order | RCVS data duties | Easier to obtain prescriptions and compare buying medicines elsewhere. |
| Complaints processes | 6 months after Order | 6 months after Order | RCVS insights from Sept 2028 | Clearer complaint routes and mediation for unresolved issues. |
Standard online price lists
- Large providers
- 3 months after Order
- Small providers
- 6 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- —
Easier to compare routine and common service prices online.
Parasiticide price lists
- Large providers
- 3 months after Order
- Small providers
- 6 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- —
Clearer prices for flea, tick and worming products where prescribed.
Pet care plan information
- Large providers
- 3 months after Order
- Small providers
- 6 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- —
Plans should show what is included and how savings are calculated.
Ownership transparency
- Large providers
- 6 months after Order
- Small providers
- 6 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- All groups
Clearer information about who owns or operates a practice.
Written prescription fee cap
- Large providers
- 6 months after Order
- Small providers
- 12 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- —
Caps the fee for issuing a written prescription, not medicine or consultation fees.
Written estimates and itemised bills
- Large providers
- 9 months after Order
- Small providers
- 12 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- —
Clearer upfront costs and breakdowns for higher-value treatment.
Prescription and medicines transparency
- Large providers
- 9 months after Order
- Small providers
- 12 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- RCVS data duties
Easier to obtain prescriptions and compare buying medicines elsewhere.
Complaints processes
- Large providers
- 6 months after Order
- Small providers
- 6 months after Order
- RCVS / others
- RCVS insights from Sept 2028
Clearer complaint routes and mediation for unresolved issues.
Frequently asked questions
When do the CMA vet reforms start?
The CMA final report was published on 24 March 2026. Legally binding Orders/undertakings are expected by 23 September 2026, with most practical duties phased in from three to twelve months after the Order.
Will vets have to publish prices online?
Yes, for defined services, once the relevant deadlines apply. Larger providers are generally expected to comply around three months after the Order; smaller providers around six months after the Order.
What is the new prescription fee cap for vets?
The cap applies to the fee for issuing a written prescription: £21 for the first medicine in a consultation and £12.50 for each additional medicine in the same consultation, inclusive of VAT. It does not cap medicine or consultation fees.
Will I be able to see who owns my vet?
Vet groups are expected to display ownership information online, in premises, signage and communications. CMA guidance indicates this for groups around six months after the Order is in place.
Do vets have to give written estimates?
For treatment pathways reasonably likely to cost £500 or more including VAT, practices must provide a written estimate and update it if costs are likely to rise materially.
Will vet bills have to be itemised?
Yes. Practices are expected to provide itemised bills so owners can see how charges break down.
Do the CMA reforms apply to independent vets?
Many duties apply to veterinary businesses operating first-opinion practices, including independent practices. Deadlines can differ between larger and smaller providers.
Are vet prices being capped?
No. The CMA remedy caps written prescription fees, not consultation fees, medicine prices or overall treatment prices.
Will the CMA reforms make vet care cheaper?
The reforms focus on transparency and choice, not guaranteed lower prices. Owners may find it easier to compare options, but costs can still vary.
What should I do if I have a complaint about my vet?
Ask the practice about its complaints process first. If unresolved, mediation routes should become available under the reforms.
Sources and methodology
This page summarises official CMA materials in plain English for pet owners. It is not legal advice. Expected dates depend on when the CMA Order is in place.