CMA launches substantive Order and Undertakings consultation
It has been launched one week before the end of a funding Order and Undertakings consultation.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a consultation into its draft substantive Order and Undertakings documentation.
Respondents are asked to share their views on whether the actions are consistent with the final report, and whether it will achieve the aims of its remedies. Submissions can be sent until the consultation closes on 30 August 2026 at 11.59pm.
The CMA has published five draft documents, with supporting files, for review. This includes draft schedules, draft annexes, and an RCVS monitoring proposal.
The inquiry group had previously agreed that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) would be best placed to support the fulfilment of its remedy package.
The papers therefore set out the actions and timelines which the RCVS would be required to undertake as the remedy package is rolled out.
However, the inquiry group urges respondents to only share their views on the consistency and efficacy of the documents in fulfilling its remedies. The decisions made in the CMA’s final report, published in March this year, are not open for consultation.
Responses to this consultation can be uploaded here as a single file, marking clearly which document is being reviewed. The substantive consultation closes on 30 August 2026 at 11.59pm.
This latest consultation comes as a corresponding consultation into the funding of the remedies enters its final week.
The draft funding Order and Undertakings documents set out the levy that would be payable by veterinary businesses to the RCVS. This was calculated to reimburse costs it may incur between March 2026 and March 2027 in enacting the CMA’s remedy package.
The CMA’s calculations estimate that the RCVS will spend around £1.75m on enacting its remedy package between March 2026 and March 2027. Based on these estimates, the Levy for each FOP and OOH for the Initial Relevant Period could be around £400.
The funding consultation is due to close on 30 July 2026 at 11.59pm.
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
