CMA’s investigation into Eville & Jones’ acquisition of
Vorenta has raised competition concerns in the provision of
various veterinary public health inspections.
Eville & Jones and Vorenta are leading providers of
specialised veterinary services that support the UK food supply
chain. They perform essential inspections on behalf of public
bodies and for private companies ensuring the animal products
produced in, imported to, and exported from the UK are safe for
human consumption. The companies also provide inspectors who
ensure animal welfare standards are maintained in meat
establishments such as farms and abattoirs.
Following its investigation, the CMA has found competition
concerns in the supply of meat hygiene inspections in England and
Wales. These inspections are required for abattoirs and other
meat establishments to be able to operate. The CMA also found
competition concerns in relation to the supply of export health
certificates which are required by exporters of animal products
out of Great Britain, the supply of border control inspection
services of animal products coming into the UK, and in the supply
of agricultural inspection services in England.
The CMA’s investigation found that the combined businesses would
account for a significant proportion of these specialised
veterinary services providers in England, Wales, and Scotland.
This could lead to a significant lessening of competition and
result in higher costs for food businesses and lower quality in
the provision of these services which are in place to safeguard
the general public.
Sorcha O’Carroll, CMA Senior Director of Mergers, said:
The veterinary services supplied by the merging parties are
important in ensuring the animal products sold in the UK are safe
for human consumption and animal welfare standards are met.
Losing the competition that takes place between Eville &
Jones and Vorenta could result in food businesses and public
bodies paying higher prices for inspections. Well run inspections
ensure consumers have access to safe and affordable food products
and that exporters can sell animal products without delays.
Today’s decision will ensure businesses and consumers can get the
best deal.
Eville & Jones have 5 working days to offer legally binding
proposals to the CMA to address the competition concerns
identified. The CMA would then have a further 5 working days to
consider whether these address its concerns, or if the case
should be referred to an in-depth, Phase 2 investigation.
For more information, visit the Eville &
Jones/Vorenta case page.
Note to editors:
-
The CMA served an initial enforcement order in November 2022
under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Eville
& Jones (Group) Ltd and Vorenta Ltd (including its
different businesses such as HallMark Veterinary and
Compliance Services, Meat and Livestock Commercial Services,
and Probita Solutions).
