CMA spells out exactly what big vet groups must do before Christmas

The competition watchdog has published detailed guidance for large veterinary groups on meeting the new pricing and transparency rules, with the first deadlines landing just before Christmas.

The Competition and Markets Authority has published new guidance explaining exactly how big veterinary businesses must comply with the pricing rules that became law last month. This matters because it turns broad promises about clearer vet bills into specific duties, with the first ones due in just over two months.

The guidance applies to veterinary businesses with 15 or more practices caring for pets and sets out what they must publish, disclose and offer from this year onwards.

What the guidance covers

According to the published guidance, large groups must disclose group ownership, publish practice information, standardised service and parasiticide prices and pet care plan details, and submit information to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Other duties go further than simple price lists. The guidance confirms that practices must provide written estimates for qualifying treatment pathways expected to cost £500 or more, itemised bills, prescription fee caps, information on buying medicines elsewhere and alternatives to own-brand medicines. It also covers out of hours contracts, cremation, complaints, mediation, professional independence, breach reporting, compliance attestations and the RCVS levy.

The result should be that owners can finally see, before they book, roughly what a trip to a large practice group will cost.

When it takes effect

The rules do not all land at once. The guidance confirms requirements are phased from September 2026, with further deadlines in December 2026, March and June 2027, and a later deadline for submissions to the RCVS Find a Vet platform, which depends on the RCVS meeting its own requirements.

Why it matters for your next bill

For owners, the practical change will be visible on a practice's website rather than in a leaflet at reception. A group running fifteen or more practices will soon need to show its prices, say plainly whether it is independently owned or part of a chain, and give a written estimate before starting any treatment likely to cost £500 or more.

Independent and smaller practices get longer to comply, with most of their duties beginning in March 2027. Until then, bills at smaller practices may still vary without an easy way to compare them.

Once the December deadline passes, owners will be able to check a large practice's published prices before booking. In the meantime, compare vet prices for common treatments to see how your own vet's charges stack up.