Vets market investigation: draft substantive Order and Undertakings
Overview
In March 2026 we published the final report of our market investigation into the supply of veterinary services for household pets. This found that the current system is not working as well as it should for pet owners, veterinary professionals and the animals they care for.
To address the problems we have found, we will introduce Orders placing requirements on veterinary businesses.
The inquiry group also decided that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) would be well placed to both:
- support the remedies that will be imposed on veterinary businesses
- monitor businesses' compliance with those remedies
The draft Order and Undertakings give effect to the inquiry group's decisions in the final report, and will remedy, mitigate or prevent competition problems in this sector.
We want to hear from you
We are inviting your views on the:
- Draft substantive order notice
- Draft substantive order
- Draft schedule 1 - price list schedule
- Draft schedule 2 - standard written prescription notice
- Draft schedule 3 - standard flyer for ongoing medication
- Draft schedule 4 - complaint log
- Draft explanatory note
- Draft annex 1 - indicative price list
- Draft annex 2 - pet care plan information
- Draft substantive undertakings notice
- Draft substantive undertakings
- RCVS monitoring proposal
We are specifically seeking your views on whether:
- the drafting is consistent with the final report
- the drafting achieves the aims of the remedies set out in the final report
Submit your response by uploading a single file using the form below. Mark clearly which document(s) you are sharing your views on (such as with individual pages or subheadings).
Scope of this consultation
We are not consulting on the inquiry group's decisions in the final report, such as its findings on the adverse effect of competition and the remedies it is implementing.
We are only seeking views on the 5 draft documents (and other supporting documents) on this page.
How we handle responses
In accordance with our policy of openness and transparency, we may publish non-confidential versions of responses on our webpages. If your response contains any information that you regard as sensitive and that you would not wish to be published, please provide at the same time a non-confidential version for publication on our webpages which omits that material and which explains why you regard it as sensitive.
If you are submitting your response on behalf of a veterinary business or organisation, please also let us know if you wish to remain anonymous if your response is published. Responses from individuals will always be made anonymous where the response is published.
Depending on the number of responses received, we may use AI tools to assist us with handling responses.
Interests
- Markets