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New legal requirements are set to bring significant changes to veterinary practices, including a cap on written prescription fees at £21. Vets will also be mandated to inform clients if more affordable medicines can be purchased online, provide price estimates before treatment, and make their service price lists publicly available. These updates aim to create greater transparency in the sector following concerns about rapidly rising costs.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) introduced these measures after its investigation revealed that veterinary prices had been increasing at nearly double the rate of inflation. From Tuesday onwards, these rules are legally binding, with veterinary practices given up to a year to fully implement the required changes. In addition to capping prescription fees, vets must now disclose whether they are part of a larger corporate group or independently owned, and publish comprehensive pricing information covering consultations, common procedures, and cremation services.
The CMA’s initiatives also include providing written estimates for treatments expected to exceed £500, including aftercare, with itemised bills required afterward. Emergency treatments remain exempt from this requirement. To enable pet owners to better compare local providers, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will make details about pricing and ownership accessible through its “Find a Vet” service, which will also share this data with comparison websites.
While the CMA chairman Martin Coleman emphasized that these changes will better inform pet owners about cost expectations, some independent vets have voiced their concerns. Cate Titterton, who runs a private practice in Saltburn, cautioned that the cap on drug prescription fees could lead to higher costs for other services, such as consultations and surgeries, as practices would need to compensate for lost revenue elsewhere. She argued that larger veterinary groups stand to benefit the most from the new rules. Additionally, vet Cat Henstridge welcomed the transparency on ownership but noted that corporate chains have not been required to alter their clinic ownership structures. She advised pet owners worried about costs to communicate openly with their vets to find affordable care options. Meanwhile, Dr. Rob Williams, President of the British Veterinary Association, highlighted that many practices already comply with most of the CMA’s remedies and stressed the importance of avoiding undue harm to smaller, independent clinics during these regulatory changes
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