CMA eases transparency rules in UK veterinary sector, sparking concerns over hidden corporate ownership

Changes to disclosure regulations in the UK’s veterinary sector allow larger corporate groups to obscure ownership behind familiar branding, raising fears of reduced transparency and higher prices for pet owners.

Pet owners in Britain are being warned that the true owner of their local vet may be harder to spot than it first appears, as the competition watchdog eases disclosure rules for some corporate practices.

The Competition and Markets Authority originally proposed that clinics should identify their “corporate vet group” more clearly. But after consultation, the final wording now allows some businesses to use a brand name or the name of an original practice instead of the ultimate parent company.

That has angered the Progressive Veterinary Association, which says the change could let multinational owners and private equity-backed groups obscure control behind familiar high-street branding. The association has threatened judicial review.

The CMA’s wider reform package follows a market investigation that found weak transparency, limited competition and higher prices in the UK’s £6.3bn veterinary sector. It said customers at large groups pay 16.6% more on average than those using independent practices.

More than 60% of practices are owned partly or wholly by six groups, including several backed by private equity and Mars Petcare’s Linnaeus chain. The CMA says the new branding rules will help consumers see whether a practice is locally owned or part of a national network. It is also pressing ahead with price lists, prescription fee caps and a comparison website, with some changes due from September 2026.