Navigating the 2026 CMA Veterinary Recommendations: What's Changing for UK Practices

Following the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) investigation into the UK veterinary sector, a series of major reforms are now set in stone. These measures, designed to improve transparency and choice for UK pet owners, will begin to be legally enforced through formal Orders starting in September 2026. 

For veterinary professionals in the UK, these changes represent a significant shift in how they handle medications, pricing, and client communication. Which in turn represents a spike in administrative tasks from updating signage and websites to formalising in-house complaints and medication processes. 

The extra admin that comes with these new measures comes at a time when UK veterinary practices are already under tremendous pressure.

According to the British Veterinary Association’s “Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey,” 62% of vets working in clinical practice across the UK don’t always get breaks during their working day to eat and rest. In the 2025 SPVS Salary Survey, it was reported that 65% of UK vets now report working regular overtime.

These figures must be highlighted  because the CMA recommendations are landing at a time when many practices already feel stretched. 

For teams balancing consults, client communication, notes, and follow-up admin, even well-intentioned changes can add pressure if the workflow is not built to support them. The question for practices is not whether transparency matters. It is how to deliver it consistently without adding even more strain to the day.

If you are working out how to respond to these UK veterinary reforms in practice, here is a clear summary of the changes and how veterinary software, including AI copilots, may help reduce pressure on your team.

The six prescription changes practices need to know

At the centre of the major changes is a simple principle: pet owners should have clearer information about their options. Here are six prescription-related changes practices should understand.

1. Practices must explain prescription rights clearly

Most practices display a sign in the waiting room. However, the CMA found that 70% of pet owners still buy medication directly from their vet, often simply because they aren't aware they have a choice or feel awkward asking.

Under the new regulations, transparency must be proactive. 

You are now legally required to inform owners of their right to a written prescription in all primary communication channels including your website, appointment confirmation emails, and physical posters. Crucially, this also includes verbal communication; staff will be required to mention the option of a written prescription during the consultation itself before the sale is finalized. 

You must also explicitly state that medicines may be cheaper elsewhere.

2. Verbal proposals need to become routine

Vets often only provide a written prescription if a client specifically asks for one. The CMA’s research showed that vets were significantly less likely to offer prescriptions for one-off or acute medications than for chronic ones.

The "onus" shifts to the vet. During the consultation, you must routinely and orally offer the option of a written prescription before dispensing. The only exception is if the animal requires immediate, life-saving administration.

Proving that these verbal proposals are happening consistently across hundreds of consults appears to be particularly challenging. It is one thing to have a policy, but how will UK vets demonstrate proof of implementation?

One method UK practitioners should strongly consider implementing before the regulations take effect in September 2026 are tools that create full, automated transcriptions of consultations. A veterinary scribe could become an invaluable asset for compliance, ensuring proof that the verbal proposals were made during the consultation. 

3. Prescription delivery timelines are tighter

Timelines for issuing prescriptions are currently inconsistent. Some practices provide them immediately, while others may take several days to process a digital request or post a physical copy.

Strict deadlines now apply. If an owner wants a hard copy, it must be handed over by the end of the consultation. If they prefer a digital version, it must be emailed to them (or their online pharmacy) within 48 hours.

Meeting a 48-hour digital deadline while managing a full surgery schedule is a recipe for missed emails and stressed reception teams. To solve this, UK practices could implement veterinary copilots to automate the process.

4. Own-brand medication disclosures matter

Many large veterinary groups (LVGs) dispense “own-brand” medications (like the MiPet range). The CMA found owners often don’t realise these are corporate-exclusive labels, which makes it very challenging for them to search for or price-match the same product online.

By September 23, 2026, you must explicitly tell clients if a product is an “own-brand.” You are also required to provide the name of the reference product (the widely available equivalent) so the owner can accurately price-match at third-party retailers.

How will UK veterinarians demonstrate that they are providing this information? While you could manually type this disclosure into every medical record, there is a much more reliable way to protect your practice.

Adopting a veterinary AI copilot to capture consultation audio creates a transcript and structured documentation that serves as linked evidence. If a compliance query ever arises, you won’t have to rely on memory or shorthand notes. You’ll have a secure, searchable record proving the own-brand disclosure was made and the equivalent product was mentioned.

5. Ongoing medication requires additional communication

For pets on long-term meds, the "default" is often to simply pick up the repeat from the clinic. The option to shop around is rarely re-highlighted after the initial diagnosis.

Starting in September, for every long-term prescription, you must "nudge" the owner again. This must be done via a physical flyer with the meds or a triggered email, either at the first or second dispensation, to ensure the owner knows they can switch to a cheaper online provider at any time.

Manually tracking whether a client is on their first or second dispensation and ensuring the correct “rights flyer” is a logistical headache for clinics. Something that could easily fall through the cracks during a Friday afternoon rush. 

To bridge this gap, UK veterinary practices should strongly consider implementing an AI copilot like CoVet. 

CoVet is a leading AI copilot built by vets for the realities of clinical practice. As a result, one of CoVet’s more popular features is its ability to customize and generate client handouts and discharge summaries. When CoVet detects a mention of long-term meds, it can generate a customized flier detailing the options available or reminding them that there are alternatives. 

Additionally, thanks to CoVet’s partnership with Vetlexicon, UK users can receive suggestions from Vetlexicon’s peer-reviewed Client Factsheets, providing clients with accessible, credible information about their animal’s condition and treatment options. 

6. Prescription fees are capped

Historically, pricing for written prescriptions has been highly variable across the UK. 

The CMA’s investigation found that fees typically ranged from £10 to over £30, which can create a significant cost barrier for owners looking to source medications elsewhere.

New legal caps now apply to ensure these fees only reflect the professional time required to review and issue the document. By March 2027 (or September 2027 for smaller practices), fees will be capped at:

• £21 for the first medicine.

• £12.50 for each additional item included on the same prescription.

Note on Chronic Meds: These caps apply to both initial and repeat prescriptions. If an owner requests a repeat for a chronic condition, the same £21 / £12.50 structure applies to the issuance of that written prescription, regardless of whether a face-to-face consultation occurs that day.

These set charges include VAT and will be adjusted annually by the CMA to account for inflation.

These set charges are likely to be adjusted annually for inflation.

The Added Admin Burden

The CMA’s recommendations extend far beyond the pharmacy. 

To remain compliant, practices must also prepare for:

Mandatory Branding & Signage

One of the CMA's primary concerns is the "invisible" consolidation of the UK veterinary market. Many pet owners are unaware that their local practice is part of a Large Veterinary Group (LVG), which can lead to a false sense of local competition.

By March 2027, transparency becomes a legal requirement:

• Large Veterinary Groups: Must clearly and prominently display their corporate ownership on all physical signage, at the premises, and on their websites.

• Communications: The identity of the group must be clearly identified in all client communications, including emails, estimates, and invoices.

• Independent Practices: Are also encouraged to clearly state their independent status to ensure pet owners can make an informed choice between business models.
  

Updating every letterhead, discharge note, and handout to reflect these new ownership disclosures is a massive administrative task. CoVet simplifies this by allowing practices to fully customize their digital outputs.

Within the CoVet app, you can configure your practice’s logo, contact information, and mandatory ownership disclosures across all generated documents. This removes the risk of a vet accidentally using an old, non-compliant template during a busy shift.

Standardised Price Lists

Practices must publish a comprehensive price list for standard services (including consultations, common scans, and vaccinations) on their website.

The £500 Estimate Threshold

A written estimate and a fully itemised bill are now a legal requirement for any non-emergency treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including VAT and anticipated aftercare).

For a busy clinical team, remembering to pause and generate a formal document in the middle of a complex case is a tall order.

Once again, an AI copilot that can generate official, customer-facing documents that specify estimate details could significantly reduce the strain of these new requirements. 

Complaints & Mediation

Every practice must have a transparent, accessible in-house complaints process and must engage in formal mediation if a dispute cannot be resolved internally.

Under the new regulations, every veterinary practice must maintain a transparent, easily accessible in-house complaints process. Furthermore, if a dispute cannot be resolved internally, practices are now required to engage in formal mediation.

When a complaint escalates, the biggest hurdle is often a lack of objective evidence. Brief, handwritten clinical notes rarely capture the nuances of a difficult conversation, leaving the practice vulnerable during mediation.

Because veterinary copilots like CoVet capture the full consultation audio and generates a transcript, you have an undeniable record of exactly what was said, what was offered, and what was agreed upon. If a client claims they weren't informed of a risk or a price, you can produce the evidence at a moment's notice.

For high-tension follow-up meetings where a complaint is being discussed, CoVet can be used to summarize the interaction. This ensures both parties receive a clear, neutral summary of the discussion points and next steps, preventing further miscommunication.

Having a reliable transcript reduces the stress on your team. Vets, nurses, and support staff no longer have to rely on their memory under pressure; they can trust that the facts are securely documented and ready for any mediation process.

The RCVS Levy

 To fund the new "Find a Vet" comparison service and compliance monitoring, practices will pay an estimated £150–£250 setup fee and an annual levy of £450–£550.

The Implementation Timeline

While the final report is out, the CMA is giving the sector time to adapt.

• September 23, 2026: All CMA Orders become legally binding.

• December 2026: Large Veterinary Groups (LVGs) must comply with most transparency and pricing measures.

• March 2027: Small independent practices must comply with pricing and ownership disclosures.

• June – September 2027: Full compliance for all, including the launch of third-party price comparison tools.

How CoVet can support UK veterinary teams as they adapt

The value of an AI copilot like CoVet is shifting from "convenience" to "compliance." As these new rules increase the number of "must-do" tasks in every consult, CoVet helps your team keep up without losing time.

Making repeat communication easier

For ongoing medication, practices may need a reliable way to send repeat communications without creating more work for reception or clinical teams. 

CoVet can generate custom templates for repeat communication, so teams have a more consistent starting point and are not relying on memory every time.

Keeping follow-up work visible

CoVet’s Task Management automatically pulls "Billing" and "To Do" items from your case recordings. If a treatment crosses that £500 threshold, CoVet helps ensure the written estimate task is flagged immediately, reducing the risk of a compliance gap.

Protecting Impartial Advice

The CMA now requires practices to have written policies ensuring vets are empowered to offer impartial advice. By using CoVet to transcribe and summarise consultations, you create an objective record that clinical judgment was protected from commercial pressure.

Is Your Practice Ready?

The shift toward transparency is a positive step for pet owners, but it shouldn't come at the cost of veterinary mental health.

If your practice is reviewing how to adapt to the new CMA recommendations, start where the strain is most obvious: prescriptions, client communication, and repeat admin. Those are often the first places better systems can reduce friction for the team.