Like its British and Dutch counterparts, the French competition authority (Autorité de la Concurrence) is now also looking into the veterinary sector and the evolution of its pricing policies. Its opinion, published last week, describes the ‘major transformations of the veterinary landscape’ over the past years, including the rise of corporates and the cost of veterinary care.
‘Vigilant regarding mergers and acquisitions’
In its report, the Authority notes an evolution of the veterinary profession – that of corporates – as well as an overall increase in the cost of animal care. It announced it ‘will therefore be vigilant regarding the structural effects of mergers and acquisitions in this sector’.
No concerns regarding drug cost negotiations
Regarding veterinary medicines, the Authority describes the current channels of distribution in France and notes ‘an increasing role played by purchasing groups’. While this role is questioned by some pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers, the Authority does not reveal any particular concerns.
Call for transparency on prices and affiliation
Finally, the Authority suggests to introduce rules about the transparency of prices, as well as an obligation for practices belonging to a chain or corporate to clearly display their affiliation. The full report can be found here.
Meanwhile, in the UK and the Netherlands...
In the UK, the CMA report is currently under consultation, with further hearings planned for November and December. In the Netherlands, the report was published end 2024, and potential measures are currently being studied. For more on the impact of corporates in Europe, see the study published by FVE earlier this year.
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