Article 24 of the Order. First deadline 21 April 2027. 182 days to go.
RCVS compliance attestation: CMA Order deadlines
If you run more than one site, a senior person must formally tell the RCVS whether you comply, within 30 days of each start date and then every year.
Applies to: businesses with 2 to 14 first opinion practices or out-of-hours centres. Single-site practices do not attest.
Form not yet published by the RCVS.
- Initial attestation for March duties
- 21 April 2027
- First annual attestation
- 30 September 2027
- Initial attestation for September duties
- 22 October 2027
What the Order requires
- Initial attestation within 30 days of each compliance date, covering the duties that have just started. File by 21 April 2027 for the March duties and by 22 October 2027 for the September duties.
- First annual attestation by 30 September 2027, then by the last working day of September each year, confirming you remain compliant with the Order in full.
- Covers Parts 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the Order. Out-of-hours contract attestations go to the CMA instead.
- States whether you comply, sets out any breaches with reasons and the sites affected, and confirms the information is accurate.
- Signed by a UK-based chief executive, managing director or senior director, or for a partnership or sole trader, an owner or authorised person.
- Submitted in the form the RCVS stipulates.
- Separately, any breach you discover must be reported to the RCVS within 14 days (Article 25).
How to fix it
- Name the person who will sign and diarise 21 April 2027, 30 September 2027 and 22 October 2027.
- Keep an evidence file for each duty and each site: what you published, where, and when, so the signatory can attest with confidence.
- Record any gaps and the date each was fixed, because breaches must be disclosed.
Sources
Check your whole website against the Order
Free red, amber and green report for every duty in the Order that can be checked from your website, plus the ones you confirm yourself. The checker opens in November 2026.
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. Rules version 2026-10-21.1.