Our response to the CMA investigation and Defra proposals to reform veterinary practice

28 January 2026

News reports suggest that vets will have to publish price lists for common treatments and disclose if they are independent or part of a chain under plans for a major overhaul of the industry. 

Under government proposals aimed at helping pet owners understand what they are paying for and avoid unexpected costs, it has been suggested that vets may need to be transparent about treatment options and pricing, in order to increase competition between practices. 

The proposals also include a requirement for every vet practice to have an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes – and to provide straightforward routes for customers to raise concerns. 

The proposals follow the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) finding that fees have risen at almost twice the rate of inflation, with pet owners not being given enough information about their vet and the prices of treatments. 

Steve Howard, Chief Veterinary Advisor at PDSA, shared:

“PDSA supports making veterinary care easier to access, transparent and more affordable. However, we have called on the CMA to allow charity veterinary practices to opt out of some of the remedies proposed. For example, there is no benefit in publishing price lists in instances where treatment is already being provided at no or low cost to the client.

“As a charity, we provide funded veterinary care to those who meet eligibility criteria, and, without PDSA, would have nowhere else to turn. To include charity prices as part of a wider national price comparator will cause confusion and increase demand from people who are ineligible for our support.

“This proposed move will add significant, unnecessary pressure to charity providers with no benefit to our clients. As a charity, it is crucial that every pound we receive and every minute we have available is spent helping those who need us most and is not needlessly spent on administrative tasks that only apply to commercial veterinary practices.

“We understand that elements of the CMA investigation may have been included in the DEFRA consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. We now look forward to examining the detail of that consultation and providing a vital charity perspective, so that all proposals will have a real, tangible positive impact on pets and people.”