£21 Vet Prescription Fee Cap: What Changes and When

Updated 24 September 2026: Added the final CMA Order, phased deadlines and a worked example of total medicine costs.

The CMA has made its final veterinary-services Order. A cap on written prescription fees is now part of that Order, but the cap is not yet a universal limit on bills issued today. Practices have different deadlines to make the changes.

This guide explains the timetable and the distinction between paying for a written prescription and paying for the medicine itself. For wider appointment planning, use our seven questions to ask a small-pet vet.

What changed on 22 September 2026?

The Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026 was published on 22 September. The earlier consultation has therefore moved to a final Order with phased compliance deadlines. The CMA’s implementation guidance sets out which businesses and services are covered; charities providing small-animal veterinary services are excluded from these requirements.

What will the written prescription fee cap cover?

• First medicine prescribed within a consultation: a maximum written-prescription fee of £21.
• Each additional medicine in that consultation: a maximum written-prescription fee of £12.50.
• The amounts include VAT and will be adjusted annually for inflation.

These limits concern the charge for providing a written prescription. They do not cap the entire consultation, the price of the medicine, diagnostic tests or follow-up care.

When must practices comply?

For the prescription-fee cap, the CMA gives larger businesses six months from the Order and smaller businesses twelve months: March 2027 and September 2027 respectively. Its size distinction is at business level: larger businesses operate at least 15 first-opinion practices. Check the current guidance and ask your practice which timetable applies before assuming that a fee is above an applicable cap.

Compare the complete cost, not just one fee

Use the same medicine, strength, formulation and quantity when comparing the vet’s supply price with an external supplier. Ask the vet whether an alternative supply route is suitable and timely for the prescribed treatment. Never change a medicine or dose because a different product looks cheaper.

A useful comparison sheet has four lines:

1. The written-prescription charge.
2. The medicine price for the quantity actually prescribed.
3. Delivery or collection costs and the time before it is available.
4. Any consultation, monitoring or follow-up charges that apply either way.

Illustration only: if a practice supplies a medicine for £35, while another supplier charges £20 plus a £21 written-prescription fee, the second route totals £41 before delivery. Those invented prices are not a quote or a claim about local vets; they show why a cheaper medicine can still produce a higher total.

Questions to ask before requesting a prescription

• What exactly will be prescribed, and how much will my pet need?
• What is the written-prescription fee at this practice today?
• How long is the prescription valid, and are repeats permitted?
• When must treatment start, and is there time to use another supplier?
• Will my pet need a further examination or test before another prescription?

Write down the answers beside the estimate. If cost is difficult, tell the practice early so that the vet can discuss appropriate options. The RCVS guidance for animal owners explains cost information, estimates and consent.

If your bird or small pet is unwell

Contact a vet promptly about a health concern. A future price rule is not a reason to postpone assessment or stop prescribed treatment. Ask the practice about urgency and costs together, and follow the vet’s instructions.

For everyday housing and feeding questions, start with our pet-care guides. Paradise Pets can help with equipment and routine-care questions; diagnosis and treatment belong with a qualified vet.

Sources and update

• CMA final Order, published 22 September 2026.
• CMA guidance: prescription-fee cap and implementation timetable.
• RCVS: fees and pricing for animal owners.

This update replaces the earlier proposal-only explanation with the final Order’s status, deadlines and a worked cost comparison. Check the linked CMA guidance for later changes.