CMA investigation timetable extension following BVA concerns about ‘potential remedies’

Responding to the extension, British Veterinary Association President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “This news of a delay will be disappointing for many, particularly those frontline staff working tirelessly to care for their patients and support their clients and who have borne the brunt of negative media headlines during the investigation. However, whilst this extension prolongs uncertainty across the veterinary sector, the CMA’s final remedies will have far reaching consequences for the viability of vet businesses, which in turn will impact clients and animal welfare, and so it’s vital that the CMA gets this right. 

“We’ve been clear with the CMA throughout its investigation that delivering veterinary care is complex, nuanced and cannot be reduced to a simple transactional relationship. It’s therefore good to see the CMA recognising that ‘clinical judgements, professional expertise, and the relationships between vets and pet owners’ are critical. However, we have serious concerns that the scale of the proposed remedies is completely disproportionate, and in some cases certain remedies are simply unworkable. We have raised these concerns directly with the CMA and will continue to ensure the veterinary voice is heard as the investigation continues.” 

Read BVA’s joint consultation response with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) here: https://www.bva.co.uk/media/6392/final-response-to-cma-remedies-working-paper.pdf  

Full details of the CMA’s timetable extension can be found in its website: https://competitionandmarkets.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/10/addressing-concerns-in-the-veterinary-sector/  

Join the BVA Live CMA session 

We will be debating the potential impact of CMA’s proposed remedies at BVA Live in Birmingham this week. There’s still time to join us at 2:30pm, Friday 13 June for Preparing for Change: The CMA Investigation, where we are and possible implications for the profession. Fully funded educational bursaries are available, open to all BVA members at all stages of their career. Applications for a bursary can be made online or by calling 02476 719 687. 

Full details of the working paper can be found on the CMA’s website. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/vets-market-investigation-remedies-working-paper