Vets market investigation: remedies working paper

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The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) purpose is to help people, businesses and the UK economy by protecting competition and tackling unfair behaviour.

About this consultation

In a set of working papers published earlier this year, the CMA set out a number of potential competition concerns with the vets market that could be leading to poor outcomes for pet owners – including, in some instances, prices that are higher than they should be.

We've published a remedies working paper, in which we set out our current thinking on a potential package of remedies that may be needed if we were to find competition concerns that we'd need to address.

We have not yet reached a conclusion on:

  • whether remedies would ultimately be needed
  • if they are needed, what form they should take

We're seeking views from vet businesses, veterinary professionals and other interested parties on the likely effect of the remedies we're considering.

We want to hear from you

We want to hear from:

  • vets
  • vet nurses
  • vet businesses
  • pet owners
  • others in the veterinary services sector

We want your views on any part of this working paper, including:

  • how our remedies proposals could be improved
  • practical (or cost) considerations in implementing them
  • possible unintended consequences
  • other suggestions to remedy the potential concerns we've set out

We also want to hear about the timeframe that might be needed (or desired) to introduce certain remedies, and whether it would help to test certain ones before they're put in place.

Responding to our consultation

Submit your response by email: vetsmi@cma.gov.uk

We intend to publish all responses from businesses and other organisations on our case page except those marked as confidential. Please clearly highlight any confidential information in your submission and provide a non-confidential version of your submission for publication.

We may also decide to publish anonymised submissions from individuals on our case page. Please clearly mark your submission as confidential if you do not want it to be published and let us know if you would prefer not to be named.

We will redact, summarise, or aggregate information in published reports where this is appropriate to ensure transparency whilst protecting legitimate consumer or business interest. While the information you provide will primarily be used for the purposes of this investigation, where appropriate, we may also use information provided as part of this consultation in relation to the CMA’s other functions. For example, we may share your information with another enforcement agency (such as local Trading Standards Services) or with another regulator for them to consider whether action is necessary.

Personal data received in the course of this consultation will be processed in accordance with our obligations under the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and other legislation designed to protect individual privacy.

Your personal data

Any personal data you provide us will be handled in accordance with our obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our personal information charter sets out the standards you can expect from us when we collect, use or share personal data and provides details of your rights in relation to that data and how to contact us

We are carrying out this work under section 5 of the Enterprise Act 2002, which gives the CMA the power to obtain, compile and keep under review information about matters relating to its functions.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) purpose is to help people, businesses and the UK economy by protecting competition and tackling unfair behaviour.

About this consultation

In a set of working papers published earlier this year, the CMA set out a number of potential competition concerns with the vets market that could be leading to poor outcomes for pet owners – including, in some instances, prices that are higher than they should be.

We've published a remedies working paper, in which we set out our current thinking on a potential package of remedies that may be needed if we were to find competition concerns that we'd need to address.

We have not yet reached a conclusion on:

  • whether remedies would ultimately be needed
  • if they are needed, what form they should take

We're seeking views from vet businesses, veterinary professionals and other interested parties on the likely effect of the remedies we're considering.

We want to hear from you

We want to hear from:

  • vets
  • vet nurses
  • vet businesses
  • pet owners
  • others in the veterinary services sector

We want your views on any part of this working paper, including:

  • how our remedies proposals could be improved
  • practical (or cost) considerations in implementing them
  • possible unintended consequences
  • other suggestions to remedy the potential concerns we've set out

We also want to hear about the timeframe that might be needed (or desired) to introduce certain remedies, and whether it would help to test certain ones before they're put in place.

Responding to our consultation

Submit your response by email: vetsmi@cma.gov.uk

We intend to publish all responses from businesses and other organisations on our case page except those marked as confidential. Please clearly highlight any confidential information in your submission and provide a non-confidential version of your submission for publication.

We may also decide to publish anonymised submissions from individuals on our case page. Please clearly mark your submission as confidential if you do not want it to be published and let us know if you would prefer not to be named.

We will redact, summarise, or aggregate information in published reports where this is appropriate to ensure transparency whilst protecting legitimate consumer or business interest. While the information you provide will primarily be used for the purposes of this investigation, where appropriate, we may also use information provided as part of this consultation in relation to the CMA’s other functions. For example, we may share your information with another enforcement agency (such as local Trading Standards Services) or with another regulator for them to consider whether action is necessary.

Personal data received in the course of this consultation will be processed in accordance with our obligations under the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and other legislation designed to protect individual privacy.

Your personal data

Any personal data you provide us will be handled in accordance with our obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our personal information charter sets out the standards you can expect from us when we collect, use or share personal data and provides details of your rights in relation to that data and how to contact us

We are carrying out this work under section 5 of the Enterprise Act 2002, which gives the CMA the power to obtain, compile and keep under review information about matters relating to its functions.

Page last updated: 02 May 2025, 04:41 PM