What the 2026 CMA Veterinary Reforms Mean for Your Practice

1. Publish a comprehensive price list

The CMA vet price list requirement is the most immediate change for most practices. Your website must clearly display prices for:

• Standard and out-of-hours consultations
• Core vaccinations (dog and cat)
• Neutering (by species and sex)
• Dental scale and polish
• Cremation options (individual and communal)

Prices must be accurate, up to date, and easy to find. A PDF buried in a footer won’t cut it.

2. Declare your ownership structure

Practices must clearly state whether they are independent or part of a corporate group. This must be prominent on the website — not hidden in an About page. Patients have a right to know who owns their vet.

3. Prescription transparency

One of the most significant changes: you must proactively inform clients that they can request a written prescription and fill it elsewhere. Online pharmacies typically offer the same medicines at 50–60% less than in-practice prices.

The first prescription fee is now capped at £21. Subsequent prescriptions are capped at £12.50. These caps must appear on your website.

4. Written estimates for treatments over £500

Any treatment expected to cost £500 or more requires a written, itemised estimate before work begins — including anticipated aftercare costs. The only exception is genuine emergencies where delay would harm the animal.

5. Feed data to comparison services

Your pricing and ownership data must be provided to the RCVS “Find a Vet” service and other authorised third-party vet practice price comparison platforms. This is designed to make it easier for pet owners to compare costs between practices in their area.