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UK Antitrust Watchdog Orders Veterinary Market Reforms to Boost Price Transparency

By  |  March 24, 2026
UK Antitrust Watchdog Orders Veterinary Market Reforms to Boost Price Transparency

Great Britain’s competition regulator has ordered reforms in the country’s veterinary sector, seeking to make prices clearer for pet owners and to limit some of the costs tied to treatment and medicines in a market worth £6.7 billion, according to Bloomberg.

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    The Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday (March 24) it will cap fees for written prescriptions and require stronger transparency around pricing and practice ownership, measures designed to help animal owners compare providers more easily and shop around for lower-cost medicines and services, according to Bloomberg.

    The move follows a two-year investigation by the CMA into the veterinary services market. The regulator found that pet owners pay about 17% more on average at large veterinary chains than at independent clinics, according to Bloomberg. The CMA also found that prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, with larger groups raising prices more quickly than independent practices.

    The watchdog said the current system has made it harder for pet owners to understand what they are paying for and whether cheaper options are available. It plans to put legally binding orders in place by Sept. 23, with the changes set to be rolled out over the next three to 12 months, according to Bloomberg.

    In its final report, the CMA said, “The current system is leaving pet owners in the dark.” The regulator also backed government plans to update the legal framework for the sector, saying, “Modern legislation is overdue.” It added: “Consumers would benefit from tougher monitoring and enforcement of regulatory standards.”

    Read more: UK Watchdog Eyes Reform of £2bn Veterinary Sector Amid Price Hikes

    According to Bloomberg, the CMA’s review covered six major veterinary groups, including CVS Group Plc and Pets at Home Group Plc. The regulator said, citing industry estimates, that around 60% of UK households owned a pet in 2024.

    Investors showed a muted response to the announcement. CVS shares rose 1.4%, while Pets at Home was little changed by 8:50 a.m. in London after initially gaining about 1% at the open, according to Bloomberg. Other peers in the sector rose 0.5%, while the FTSE 100 Index was broadly flat, per Bloomberg.

    CVS said the final CMA decision did not go beyond the remedies outlined in the regulator’s provisional ruling in October. “Whilst we continue to believe that some of these remedies are not fully justified, we are comfortable with them and believe they are workable,” the company said.

    A spokesperson for Vets for Pets, part of Pets at Home Group, also welcomed part of the outcome, saying, “We’re pleased the process has identified the need to modernize the legislation and regulatory system underpinning the sector.”

    Source: Bloomberg