Business
Response to DEFRA consultation
CVS Group plc welcomes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' announcement of a consultation on reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, a move recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority. CVS believes these reforms will enhance consumer confidence and regulation, including practice-level accountability and expanding the role of Registered Veterinary Nurses. The Group anticipates delivering FY2026 results in line with expectations. Disclaimer*
About this update from Cvs Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n 28 January 2026\n \nCVS GROUP plc\n(\"CVS\" or the \"Company\" and, together with its subsidiaries, the \"Group\")\n \nResponse to DEFRA consultation on the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966\n \nCVS welcomes the announcement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that they will be commencing a consultation on proposed reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA).\n \nReform of the VSA was a remedy recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), along with price transparency, in its October 2025 provisional decision of its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK and the Government had previously announced its intention to consult on this.\n \nCVS has been calling for reform to the VSA for some time and has engaged with both DEFRA and the CMA during the market investigation to share its views on these expected reforms. CVS believes reform will help strengthen consumer confidence in the profession, ensure enhanced regulation including practice level accountability for maintaining appropriate standards such as mandatory compliance with the voluntary Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) which CVS practices embrace. CVS also believes that expanding the scope and role of Registered Veterinary Nurses to undertake a wider range of procedures is long overdue.\n \nCVS understands the consultation will last for eight weeks and looks forward to continuing its dialogue with DEFRA, and to sharing its thoughts during the consultation.\n \nThe Group continues to expect to deliver FY2026 results in line with the Board's expectations.\n \nPaul Higgs, Chief Veterinary Officer commented: \"The Veterinary Profession has been calli...