CMA vet reforms 2026: what they mean for your wallet

UK vet prices rose 63% in seven years. On 24 March 2026 the Competition and Markets Authority concluded its market investigation and announced the most significant set of reforms in UK veterinary practice in decades. Here is what changes - and how to use it to save hundreds of pounds per year.

"Over 70% of pet owners purchase long-term medication from their vet practice even though many could save £200 a year or more if they bought online."
— Competition and Markets Authority, 24 March 2026

What the Order says

• Every vet must tell clients that medication is often cheaper online before dispensing.
• Every vet must offer a written prescription on request. They cannot refuse.
• The prescription fee is capped at £21 for the first medicine on a written prescription, plus £12.5 per additional medicine on the same prescription.
• Vets must publish a price list for their most-sold products (parasiticides and the most common prescriptions).
• Vet groups must disclose corporate ownership in consultations. Many UK practices are owned by large groups but trade under independent-sounding names.

When does it apply?

The CMA Order is legally binding by 23 September 2026 - the statutory 6-month window from the Final Report. Remedies roll out over the following 3-12 months. Smaller veterinary businesses are given an extra 3 months on top of the large corporate groups' deadlines, per the gov.uk press release. In practice, expect to see most remedies in force from late 2026 through 2027.

Which "large corporate groups"?

Six groups own a large share of UK first-opinion practices and are the primary targets of the Order's early-deadline obligations: CVS, IVC, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home and VetPartners. Many of these trade under hundreds of practice-level brand names; the corporate disclosure remedy is the reason for that. See the full corporate vet groups breakdown.

Order in force today. Read our launch-day briefing covering all six reforms, the new £21/£12.50 prescription cap and the practical four-step sequence for owners: The CMA Order comes into force today →

What it means for you

For chronic prescriptions like Apoquel, Vetmedin, gabapentin and parasiticides, the savings from switching to a VMD-approved online pharmacy are typically 50-70%, often £400-£700 per year for a senior dog on multiple medications. The CMA's own estimate is £200+/year per owner. The Order takes away the friction that used to keep owners trapped paying high prices.

Use our annual savings calculator to see your specific saving, then follow the prescription guide to ask your vet.

Sources

• CMA press release, "CMA concludes market investigation with major reforms to veterinary sector" (24 March 2026).
• RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.
• VMD register of approved internet retailers (gov.uk/check-veterinary-medicine-seller).