On 9 July 2026, the Government published its White Paper, Our Vision for a Thriving Veterinary Sector, in response to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, which concluded earlier this year. The White Paper largely adopts the recommendations of the CMA and proposes the most significant reform of veterinary regulation since the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

While much public attention has focused on pricing transparency, prescription fee caps and the proposed veterinary ombudsman, the most significant development for veterinary practices may be the introduction of direct statutory regulation of veterinary businesses.

If implemented, the proposals would fundamentally change the regulatory landscape by moving beyond regulating individual veterinary professionals and bringing veterinary and animal healthcare businesses under a new licensing and enforcement regime.

Regulation of veterinary businesses – a fundamental shift

At present, veterinary regulation is largely focused on individual professionals. Although many practices participate in the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, there is currently no comprehensive statutory framework for regulating veterinary businesses themselves. The Government considers this increasingly difficult to justify given the growth of corporate ownership and concerns identified by the CMA regarding competition, transparency and consumer outcomes.

The White Paper therefore proposes a mandatory licensing regime for all veterinary and animal healthcare businesses, ranging from large corporate groups to independent practices and sole traders. Operating without a licence would not be permitted under the new framework.

Businesses would be required to demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards across a range of areas, including:

• animal health and welfare;
• staffing, qualifications and training;
• health and safety;
• good governance, record keeping and data management;
• facilities and equipment; and
• policies designed to protect consumers.

Inspection powers and publication of inspection reports

Perhaps the most significant practical consequence for practices is the inspection regime proposed by the White Paper. The regulator would have powers to carry out routine or risk-based inspections or to respond to breaches.

The regulator would be granted powers to enter premises to undertake inspections and also to obtain information from businesses, whether held locally or centrally within a corporate group. These powers would include requiring documents and records, demanding explanations and answers to reasonable questions, and gathering information without necessarily attending the premises.

The White Paper also proposes the publication of regulatory inspection outcomes. Following inspections, the regulator would publish reports online indicating whether a business is compliant with regulatory standards and identifying any minor, major or critical breaches.

Published compliance reports would also give clients greater visibility of a practice’s regulatory record and could influence consumer choice in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Wider enforcement powers

The White Paper gives a clear indication that the Government intends the regulator to have meaningful enforcement powers rather than relying solely on professional disciplinary processes.

Where standards are not met, it is expected that the regulator will have the ability to:

• provide advice and guidance;
• issue improvement notices, requiring remedial action within specified timeframes;
• impose fines;
• carry out additional inspections;
• suspend a business licence; or
• ultimately remove a business licence.

Suspension of a licence could result in the practice needing to immediately stop activities until concerns are addressed. Licence removal would be reserved for the most serious or persistent failures but would effectively prevent the business from operating.

Other key reforms

Although business regulation is likely to have the most significant operational impact on practices, the White Paper includes a number of additional reforms that veterinary businesses should continue to monitor.

1. Complaints and Veterinary Ombudsman

All businesses would be required to maintain an internal complaints process, and first-opinion practices would be required to participate in an approved mediation scheme. Compliance would form part of the regulatory framework.

The Government is also considering the establishment of an independent veterinary ombudsman to provide binding redress where complaints remain unresolved after a practice’s internal complaints process and mediation. The ombudsman could require compensation, apologies, remedial action or changes to business practices.

2. Price Transparency and Prescription Reforms

The White Paper supports the CMA’s proposals for enhanced transparency, including publication of price information, ownership information and information-sharing requirements to assist consumer comparison. It also supports the previously announced £21 cap on written prescription fees.

3. Regulation of Veterinary Professionals

The White Paper also contains broader reforms aimed at modernising professional regulation across the veterinary sector, including:

• protection of the title “veterinary nurse“;
• regulation of the wider veterinary team; and
• reforms to fitness-to-practise processes.

What could this mean for veterinary practices?

These powers will bring the veterinary sector more in line with the regulatory framework applicable to other organisations operating in regulated healthcare or care sectors.

If implemented, practices may need to devote greater attention to:

• governance structures and accountability arrangements;
• regulatory compliance policies and procedures;
• record keeping and operational oversight;
• quality assurance processes;
• preparation for inspections; and
• management of regulatory risk.

Groups involved in acquisitions, consolidation projects or investment transactions may also need to consider how future regulatory requirements could affect valuations, due diligence exercises and ongoing operational costs.

Looking ahead

While legislation will still be required before these proposals become law, the direction of travel is clear. Veterinary businesses are likely to move into a regulatory environment akin to other regulated healthcare sectors, with licensing, inspections, published reports, regulatory investigations and a graduated enforcement regime.

For veterinary practices, corporate groups and investors, the proposed regulation of businesses may ultimately be the most consequential aspect of the White Paper, extending regulatory accountability from individual professionals to the organisations through which veterinary services are delivered.

This shift is likely to place governance, compliance and regulatory risk management much higher on the strategic agenda for veterinary businesses in the years ahead.

How can we help?

The proposed reforms could introduce significant new compliance, licensing and governance obligations for veterinary businesses. Our specialist regulatory team advises organisations operating in regulated healthcare sectors on compliance, inspections, investigations and enforcement action. If you would like to discuss how these proposals may affect your practice or organisation, please get in touch.