Belgian law update: Two January 2026 bills to amend the Code of Economic Law

Overview

Two bills introducing a broad set of economic measures were tabled in the Belgian House of Representatives on 9 January 2026 (references 56K1235/001 and 56K1236/001). They propose amendments to several provisions of the Code of Economic Law (CEL).

The proposed reform aims to enhance consumer protection, align Belgian law with EU requirements and modernise enforcement tools.

At this stage, the bills remain subject to change during the parliamentary process.

Amendments to Book I of the CEL

• Incorporation of the correct definition of “products” under the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The EAA imposes accessibility obligations for certain products and services, including e‑commerce services. During its transposition into Belgian law, the EAA’s own definition of “products” was not incorporated, with the result that the much broader Belgian definition – covering goods, services, immovable property, rights and obligations – still applies. This creates a risk of an unintended over‑extension of the scope of accessibility rules. The bill therefore proposes to insert the correct EAA definition into the CEL, thereby realigning the national framework with EU law and ensuring legal clarity.

Amendments to Book VI – consumer protection and market practices

• Clarification of the scope of price‑reduction announcement rules. Article VI.18 transposes Article 2(1) of the Omnibus Directive, but the Belgian transposition did not confine its scope to “movable property”, as required under EU law. As a result, the provision currently applies to all “products” within the broad Belgian definition (including services, immovable property and digital content) (Article I.8, 47° CEL). To remedy this, and in response to the European Commission’s infringement action, the bill proposes to limit the strict rules on price reduction announcements to “goods” (“biens”/“goederen”). The term “goods” is defined in Article I.1, 6° CEL as “tangible movable property”. Announcements of price reductions of services will in future not be subject to the specific rules (with the 30 days reference period), but will only have to comply with the general principles of fair commercial practices.
• New information obligation for tacitly renewed fixed‑term contracts. Companies relying on tacit renewal clauses for fixed-term consumer contracts (e.g. streaming, fitness, app subscriptions), except for contracts of one month or less, will be required to inform consumers clearly, comprehensibly and unequivocally:
  • on a durable medium; and
  • at least 15 days before the deadline to cancel the renewal, 

about both the imminent automatic renewal of their contracts and the option to decline. This measure aims to prevent consumers from being locked into contracts unintentionally.

Amendments to Book XV – strengthened enforcement and online fraud measures

• Expanded investigative and ordering powers in the digital environment. The bill introduces new instruments enabling the Economic Inspectorate to respond swiftly to online fraud. These include:
  • the power to order online platforms, search engines and comparison services providers – based on specific URLs – to stop referencing interfaces hosting manifestly illegal content (new 4° added to Article XV.5/1, §1, al. 1 CEL);
  • a new Article XV.5/2, authorising the Economic Inspection officers to issue injunctions in line with the Digital Services Act (DSA), both to act against illegal content and to obtain information needed to investigate and identify violations of economic law.

These changes align Belgian enforcement powers with the DSA (Articles 9 and 10) and provide more effective tools to combat online economic offences.

• Publication of administrative fines enhanced. Under current rules, decisions imposing an administrative fine can only be published by name after the appeal period has expired. The bill will allow publication during the appeal period, but only when necessary to warn consumers and businesses. In such cases, the authority must clearly indicate that an appeal is pending and the final outcome must be added once available. This reinforces transparency while ensuring adequate safeguards for undertakings.
• Clarification of appeal rights before the Council of State. Article XV.60/15 will be amended to confirm that an offender may appeal not only the Economic Inspectorate’s decision imposing an administrative fine, but also the decision to publish that fine naming the offender.

Amendments to Book XVII – new procedures against live event piracy

The bill broadens the powers of the President of the Enterprise Court to combat illegal live-streaming of events protected by copyright or neighbouring rights (e.g. sports competitions, concerts, festivals). The Court will now be able to issue preventive injunctions when an infringement is imminent, rather than only when it occurs.

This amendment aligns Belgian law with recent EU recommendations targeting live-stream piracy and strengthens the position of rights holders.