Pet prescriptions could be capped at £21 under proposed vet sector reforms

The UK government is considering capping pet prescription fees at £21 and introducing a licensing system for veterinary practices, aiming to address rising costs and limited competition in a sector now dominated by a handful of large corporate groups. The proposals, outlined in a white paper published on Thursday, would require every veterinary practice to hold an operating licence, similar to GP surgeries and care homes [1]. The reforms also include mandatory price lists, published compliance reports, and greater transparency over practice ownership [1]. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the measures are designed to modernize a regulatory framework that has not been updated since the Veterinary Surgeons Act was introduced in the 1960s [1]. "Pets are part of the family, but for too many households the cost of caring for them has become a real worry," Reynolds said [1]. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found earlier this year that public satisfaction with the cost of veterinary services was "low" and that competition between businesses was not strong [1]. More than 60% of veterinary practices are now owned in whole or in part by six groups: CV, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC, VetPartners, and Linnaeus, whose parent company is Mars Petcare, a subsidiary of the US confectionery group Mars [1]. Pet owners spent more than £6.7bn on veterinary and other services in 2024, equating to an average of £390 per pet-owning household [1]. Some procedures cost far more: surgery for cruciate ligament disease, a common operation for dogs, can reach £5,000 [1]. Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, backed the government's proposals. "We back the government’s proposals, which include our recommendations on regulating the sector," Cardell said. "For the first time, these proposals would ensure that vet businesses are accountable to an independent regulator, while offering consumers more protection and a fairer deal" [1]. The push for reform follows growing concern over the corporatization of the industry. Campaigners have argued that the rise of private equity ownership has reduced consumer choice and shifted focus toward profit over pet care [1]. The closure of Great Western Exotics, the UK's only training centre for avian medicine, after its acquisition by a large conglomerate has been cited as an example of the trend [1]. The government's white paper marks the first major legislative effort to overhaul the sector since the 1960s, when most practices were small, family-run businesses focused on agricultural animals [1].