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Tue, 24 Mar 2026

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 Vet prescription fees to be capped at £21

Vets will have to publish price lists for services under measures from the UK's competition watchdog.

* Written prescription fees from vets will be capped at £21
* Practices must publish price lists for services and reveal if they're part of a large group
* A price comparison website will be introduced to boost competition and drive down prices
* The CMA found that vet practice prices had risen nearly twice the rate of inflation
* More than 70% of pet owners buy long-term medication from their vet, even though they could save £200 or more by shopping online
* Pet owners must be told they can have a written prescription to save money
* Prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for additional medicines
* The CMA is backing the government's proposed reforms to veterinary law, which would make businesses accountable to an independent regulator