Running 15 or more practices? Your dates are earlier.
VetReady’s checker and guides are written for businesses with 14 or fewer practices. A group of 15 or more follows the large-business dates below. We do not check that cohort.
The GOV.UK guide says: “There are 5 deadlines for large Veterinary Businesses that look after household pets to comply with the Order:” September 2026, December 2026, March 2027, June 2027 and September 2027. “You need to comply with each requirement from the next working day after the relevant date.”
Three of those deadlines bring a group of duties into effect. The date under each heading is the guide’s wording.
Compliance date: next working day after 22 December 2026
- Practice InformationArticle 6
- Price ListArticle 7
- Parasiticide Price ListArticle 8
- Pet Care PlansArticle 9
- Ensuring that Veterinary Professionals can act in accordance with the relevant provisions of the RCVS Codes and GuidanceArticle 13
- Notice period for OOH contracts (requirement to inform FOPs)Article 19(5)(c)
- Cremation options and prices for Pet OwnersArticle 20
Compliance date: next working day after 22 March 2027
- Ownership informationArticle 5
- Prescription feesArticle 18
- In-house complaint processesArticle 21
- Complaint logsArticle 22
- MediationArticle 23
Compliance date: next working day after 22 June 2027
- Written estimates for higher cost treatmentsArticle 11
- Itemised BillsArticle 12
- Pet Owner awareness of written prescriptionsArticle 14
- Provision of written prescriptionsArticle 15
- Standard Flyer for Ongoing MedicationArticle 16
- Own Brand MedicationArticle 17
The other two deadlines
September 2026 is already in effect. The requirement is “Notice period for OOH contracts (requirement to stop enforcing notice periods exceeding 12 months and early termination fees)”, Articles 19(4) and 19(5)(a)-(b). The guide says this took effect when the Order came into place (in September 2026).
Find a Vet is later. The guide’s compliance date is: “3 months from the date on which the RCVS has fully complied with paragraph 4.1 of the Substantive RCVS Undertakings, or the next working day after 22 September 2027, whichever is later.” The duty is “Submission of information to the RCVS for publication on the Find a Vet Platform”, Article 10.
Large veterinary businesses: complying with the CMA's Order
This is general information about the Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026, not legal advice. Check the Order and the CMA's guidance before relying on it.