Veterinary services for household pets

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is conducting a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
7 September 2023
Last updated
4 December 2024 — See all updates
Case type:
Markets
Case state:
Open
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Opened:
7 September 2023

Administrative timetable

Statutory deadline: 22 November 2025

Summaries of roundtable discussions

4 December 2024: The CMA Inquiry Group and case team have held a series of roundtables to assist in our understanding of the market for veterinary services for household pets in the UK. Summaries of those roundtables are published here.

Inquiry Chair speech

15 November 2024: The CMA Inquiry Chair, Martin Coleman provided an update on the market investigation in a speech delivered at the BVA Congress at the London Vet Show.

Approach to profitability and financial analysis

1 November 2024: The CMA has published a working paper setting out how it plans to carry out profitability and financial analysis. It explains our proposed methodology, including the time period we plan to examine, what measures of profitability we intend to assess, and how we will examine the profitability of different providers of veterinary services.

The deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday 22 November 2024.

Appointment of veterinary advisory panel

25 September 2024: To assist in the market investigation the CMA Inquiry Group have appointed two veterinary nurses and four veterinary surgeons to our veterinary advisory panel. The purpose of the advisory panel is to provide the Group with insight and analysis on an ad hoc basis on matters relating to practicing as a veterinary nurse and veterinary surgeon.

Consumer survey

Draft consumer survey invitation letter

16 October 2024: The CMA has published a draft consumer survey invitation letter. The deadline for comments is midday on Tuesday 22 October 2024.

Draft consumer survey

16 September 2024: The CMA published documents for comment in relation to a consumer survey. The deadline for comments on the draft questionnaire below was 11am on Monday 23 September 2024.

Responses to issues statement

Issues statement

9 July 2024: The issues statement sets out initial theories on what might be affecting competition, potential remedies and how we intend to approach our investigation. Parties are invited to provide submissions commenting on the issues and possible remedies. The deadline for submissions is 30 July 2024.

Frequently asked questions (YouTube)

Inquiry group appointed

23 May 2024: The CMA appointed the inquiry group on 23 May 2024.

Martin Coleman (Inquiry Chair), Humphrey Battcock, Robin Cohen, Susan Hankey, and Keith Richards.

Board steer

23 May 2024: The CMA Board’s advisory steer to the inquiry group can be found below:

Terms of reference

23 May 2024: The terms of reference for the CMA’s investigation can be found below:

Case opened

23 May 2024: The CMA has decided to refer the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the United Kingdom for a market investigation.

Responses to the consultation

23 May 2024: The responses to the consultation on a proposal to make a market investigation reference can be found below:

Consumer tips

23 May 2024: The CMA’s consumer tips can be found below:

Market investigation reference

23 May 2024: The final report of the consultation and decision to make a market investigation reference can be found below:

CMA launches investigation into the veterinary sector video (YouTube)

Consultation on a market investigation reference

12 March 2024: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published an update report and consulted on whether to launch a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK. Having considered responses to the consultation, the CMA has decided to make a market investigation reference into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the United Kingdom.

The consultation closed at 5pm on 11 April 2024.

The CMA also published a report of market research commissioned during the market review.

Call for information

On 7 September 2023: the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a call for information inviting pet owners, people who work in veterinary practices and people who supply products and services to the veterinary services market to share their thoughts on the veterinary market for pets.

This call for information was open for a period of six weeks.

Timetable

The consultation period closed at 5pm on 11 April 2024.

In a market investigation, an inquiry group is the independent panel that is required to decide whether there is a prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition. The phases of a market investigation are subject to statutory time limits. The CMA must generally conclude a market investigation in 18 months and implement remedies in six months.

Contact

VetsMI@cma.gov.uk

Please note, we are unable to provide any information beyond what is shared on our case page. You can subscribe to email alerts which will inform you when new information has been added to the case page.

If you are a member of the public contacting us, please be aware that the CMA has no powers to take action or open a case on behalf of an individual consumer or business (for example, to pursue compensation, intervene in disputes or provide advice). We also cannot engage in correspondence with everyone who contacts us, however, we may get in touch if we require any further information.

Personal information

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.

How we may use your information

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.

Updates to this page

Published 7 September 2023
Last updated 4 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Roundtable summaries published.

  2. Approach to profitability and financial analysis published

  3. Draft consumer survey invitation letter notice, and draft invitation letter published.

  4. Administrative timetable updated and appointment of veterinary advisory panel published.

  5. Draft questionnaire notice and questions published

  6. Responses to issues statement published.

  7. Issues statement published

  8. Administrative timetable published.

  9. Final report of the consultation and decision to make a market investigation reference published.

  10. Update report published launching consultation on whether to launch a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.

  11. Questionnaires closed.

  12. First published.

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