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New Report Reveals Scale Of CMA Shift From Initial Proposals To Final Remedies
3 days ago 
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A new report from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) reveals the scale at which the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reexamined, reframed and ultimately extensively pared back its Final Orders during its two-and-a-half-year investigation.
Standing up for vets: How BVA shaped the outcome of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into veterinary services for household pets shows that the CMA moved from 105 potential approaches to 28 proposed remedies and ultimately 18 final remedies, with several retained measures significantly amended or scaled back.
The report also sets out the role BVA played in ensuring: the voice of its members, and the perspectives of the veterinary profession, were clearly heard by the CMA; that animal health and welfare were considered equally alongside concerns around transparency, consumer choice and the cost of services; CMA backing for long overdue reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The result was a more workable set of measures that, whilst not perfect, were more proportionate, less detrimental to the sustainability of vet businesses and fairer to both vets and pet owners.
The report outlines BVA’s impact:
- 105 potential CMA approaches challenged
- 28 proposed CMA remedies reduced to just 18
- 18 final remedies significantly changed or pared back to be more workable
- CMA backs reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 including practice regulation
- Investigation reframed to prioritise animal welfare, contextualised care and vet-client-patient relationship
- Vets recognised by CMA as highly skilled, trained professionals who act ethically and put animal welfare first.
- Shift in media narrative from blanket negativity to fairer and more balanced coverage
- Increased positive public opinion on cost and value of vet care.
As an official ‘main party’ to the investigation, BVA had direct access to the CMA Inquiry Group, early access to information and proposals and crucially the opportunity to influence the CMA’s thinking. It brought together perspectives from across the whole profession, working closely with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS), the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) and The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP).
BVA Senior Vice President Dr Rob Williams FRCVS said: “Although the outcome of the CMA investigation isn’t perfect, this report shows just how far we were able to move the CMA from its initial thinking to a more proportionate set of measures – in short, the profession could have been facing significantly greater challenges. We achieved this by ensuring the CMA undertook its investigation with a full understanding of the complexities and nuances of delivering veterinary services in the UK today and the final outcome is the culmination of hours and hours of formal hearings, teach ins and roundtables with the CMA, alongside sixteen detailed consultation responses.
“I’m proud of what we have achieved and how, working in collaboration with our colleagues at BSAVA, SPVS, BVNA, VMG and FIVP, we secured a more balanced outcome for the profession. I want to thank our members specifically because without their ongoing commitment to BVA, this work would not have been possible.”
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