CVS Group upbeat on potential overhaul of Veterinary Surgeons Act
By Josh White
Date: Wednesday 28 Jan 2026
(Sharecast News) - CVS Group said on Wednesday that it welcomed the government's decision to launch a consultation on reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, describing the move as a long-awaited step that could strengthen regulation and consumer confidence in the UK veterinary sector.
The AIM-traded firm said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had confirmed it would consult on proposed changes to the Act, following recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority in its October provisional findings from its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.
Reform of the legislation, alongside measures to improve price transparency, was identified by the CMA as a potential remedy, and the government had previously indicated it would seek views on the proposals.
CVS said it had been calling for reform of the Act for some time and engaged with both DEFRA and the CMA during the market investigation.
The group said it believed changes to the legislation would enhance regulation, including greater practice-level accountability and the introduction of mandatory compliance with the voluntary Practice Standards Scheme, which it said its practices already followed.
CVS also said it supported expanding the scope and role of registered veterinary nurses to allow them to undertake a wider range of procedures.
The company said it understood the consultation would run for eight weeks and that it "looks forward" to continuing discussions with DEFRA and contributing formally to the process.
CVS added that it continued to expect to deliver results for the 2026 financial year in line with the board's expectations.
"The veterinary profession has been calling for reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act for over a decade, something CVS continues to be supportive of," said Paul Higgs, chief veterinary officer at CVS.
"We are pleased to see the government take the opportunity of the CMA investigation to accelerate this process."
At 1356 GMT, shares in CVS Group were up 1.19% at 1,360p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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