Stroud Road Vets in Gloucester has become the first veterinary practice in the UK to be recognised as fully compliant with the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) upcoming transparency requirements for the veterinary sector.

The recognition comes at a time when the veterinary industry is facing increasing scrutiny around pricing transparency, communication standards, and the accessibility of consumer information, following the CMA’s ongoing investigation into the sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority concluded its two-year investigation into the UK veterinary market earlier this year, outlining a package of reforms designed to improve pricing transparency, strengthen consumer protections, and make it easier for pet owners to compare practices and treatment costs. The changes are expected to begin coming into force from September 2026.

VetsCompared assesses practices against the key transparency measures being introduced across the market, including pricing visibility, accessibility of information, consumer communication standards, and the publication of clearer treatment and service pricing in line with the CMA’s proposed reforms.*

This month, Stroud Road Vets became the first practice in the UK to meet the platform’s current compliance standards following a detailed review process carried out by VetsCompared.

VetsCompared believes that greater transparency around pricing and services helps improve trust and communication between practices and pet owners, while also helping independent clinics better demonstrate the value and service they provide within their local communities.

The recognition forms part of a wider push by VetsCompared to support practices navigating the evolving regulatory landscape and to encourage higher standards of pricing visibility and consumer communication across the veterinary industry.
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Founder of VetsCompared, Eddie Holmes, commented:

“As the veterinary sector moves towards greater transparency, practices that embrace these changes early are going to be in a much stronger position when it comes to consumer trust and long-term competitiveness. The reality is that many independent veterinary practices already provide excellent value, highly personalised care, and strong communication with clients. The challenge for the wider industry has often been consistency and visibility of information. What Jo and her team have done is demonstrate that transparency and good clinical service absolutely go hand in hand. This recognition isn’t about criticising practices that are still working towards compliance, but highlighting those leading from the front as the industry evolves.We expect this to become increasingly important over the next 12 to 24 months as CMA-led reforms continue to reshape consumer expectations across the veterinary market.”

Jo Stevenson, RVN BSc (Hons), of Stroud Road Vets, commented:

“The incoming CMA changes certainly feel quite daunting for a small independent practice like ours, particularly when you’re already balancing the day-to-day running of the business alongside client care and administrative responsibilities.
Working with VetsCompared has helped simplify the process considerably. Adding our information to the platform has been straightforward to manage, while the free website the team created for us means that updating our information is now very simple. We hope that giving our clients a clear view of our pricing and how we compare locally will ultimately help build trust and transparency. At the same time, we’ve been reviewing all of our procedures ahead of our upcoming RCVS Practice Standards inspection, so it’s been incredibly useful to proactively prepare for the wider CMA transparency requirements at the same time. Like any independent business, we have staff, facilities and overheads to support, but with more than 20 years in the profession, we care deeply about the relationships we build with our clients and the quality of care we provide to their pets. Being able to provide them with complete transparency around how we operate and what we charge has helped to strengthen that relationship. Knowing that we’re already ahead of the curve from a compliance perspective is a huge reassurance and allows us to stay focused on what matters most, delivering the best possible service within the practice itself.”
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