News
The 2028 social elections: Should you already be doing something now?
In May 2028, all employers employing, on average, at least 50 workers (for the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work) or 100 workers (for the Works Council), must organise social elections to elect employee representatives to these consultative bodies.
New Book 7 of the Belgian Civil Code: What you need to know
On 23 September 2026, the Act of 22 July 2026 inserting Book 7 “Special contracts” into the Civil Code was published in the Belgian State Gazette. This marks the next major milestone in Belgium’s ongoing overhaul of its private law and will have an impact on the real estate and construction sector.
In this first blog post, we look at the suppletive nature of the new rules, their entry into force, and the topics Book 7 covers, before paying particular attention to what matters for the real estate and construction sector in a series of upcoming blogs on the specific contracts it regulates.
Belgium immigration update: new Annex 64 and other changes for frontier workers
New rules recently came into force, modernising how frontier workers enter and leave Belgium. Frontier workers who do not have the nationality of an EEA country or Switzerland must now hold an Annex 64, or a specific D visa, to enter and leave Belgium for a period exceeding 90 days. This article gives a short overview of the main changes. Importantly, these changes do not affect a frontier worker’s right to work in Belgium.
Screws loose? The CJEU weighs in on a trade mark parody gone political
CJEU’s judgment of 8 September 2026 in Case C-298/23, Inter IKEA Systems BV v Algemeen Vlaams Belang VZW (Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Nederlandstalige Ondernemingsrechtbank Brussel – Brussels Dutch-speaking Business Court, Belgium). 1. Summary of the facts On 14 November 2022, the Belgian far-right political party Vlaams Belang publicly presented, at a press […]
Jan Clinck promoted to partner at ALTIUS
ALTIUS is delighted to announce that Jan Clinck has been promoted to partner as per September 2026. Congratulations Jan!
Implementation of AIFMD II in Belgium and new flexibilities for UCITS and AIFs
The Belgian legislator has been busy over the summer. Although Belgium missed the 16 April 2026 deadline for transposing AIFMD II (Directive (EU) 2024/927), it completed the implementation with the Law of 22 July 2026. In addition to transposing AIFMD II, the Belgian legislator took the opportunity to introduce a number of welcome flexibilities to […]
Belgium Transposes the EmpCo Directive: Consumer Law Gets Tougher on Greenwashing
After a long wait, Belgium has adopted the act transposing the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (the “EmpCo Directive”) into national law. It prohibits certain practices related to environmental claims and expands information obligations towards consumers. The aim of the EmpCo Directive The EmpCo Directive pursues two goals: (1) tackling unfair […]
Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series (Part 3): the recently passed ‘Bill containing various provisions on health’
In our Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series, we examine recent developments in Belgian pharmaceutical law. Whether you are looking for an informative summer read or a concise overview of the latest legal developments to catch up on after the holidays, our series has you covered. Our third and final part examines the ‘Bill containing […]
Limited payment terms in B2B relationships
In February 2022, new legislation came into force amending the Act of 2 August 2002 on combating late payment in commercial transactions[1]. This Act introduces stricter rules designed to combat late payment in commercial transactions, i.e. between businesses (B2B), with a view to protecting businesses from insolvency and abuse and maintaining their cash flow in […]
Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series (Part 2): the new ‘Article 10 guidance’ on pharmaceutical promotion
In our Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series, we examine recent developments in Belgian pharmaceutical law. Whether you are looking for an informative summer read or a concise overview of the latest legal developments to catch up on after the holidays, our series has you covered. Part 2 focuses on the new guidance on the […]
Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series (Part 1): the Act of 30 May 2026 containing various provisions on medicinal and health products
In our Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series, we examine recent developments in Belgian pharmaceutical law. Whether you are looking for an informative summer read or a concise overview of the latest legal developments to catch up on after the holidays, our series has you covered. Part 1 focuses on the Act of 30 May […]
New Flemish Fee for Single Permit Applications from 1 September 2026
As of 1 September 2026, employers applying for a single permit in the Flemish Region will be required to pay a retribution of EUR 180 per application. The retribution applies to both first applications and renewals and will be collected via the One-Stop Counter (“Uniek Loket” / “Guichet Unique”) at the time of submission. Applications […]
Are you up-to-date with the new rules on voluntary overtime hours?
Voluntary overtime hours are popular with employers because they allow them to have their employees perform overtime without any justification ground being required. Whilst the system was rather complex in the past, with two different types of voluntary overtime hours applying, namely “ordinary” voluntary overtime hours and the so-called “relance” overtime hours, it has now […]
The ‘Withdraw Here’ Button: Now a legal obligation for webshops
Belgian online traders must incorporate a mandatory online withdrawal function by 19 June 2026.
Auto-renewing a consumer contract? From 1 May 2027, prior notice is required
Belgium’s Act of 20 April 2026 introduces a new notification obligation for businesses that use automatic renewal clauses in fixed-term B2C contracts. From 1 May 2027, businesses must inform consumers at least 15 days before the consumer’s deadline to object to a renewal.
Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses | Part 2 – Sales periods: rules, restrictions, and compliance (update May 2026)
In this updated second chapter of our series “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses”, we present an overview of the specific rules governing sales in Belgium. These rules were recently called into question by the Council of State in a series of judgments handed down in May 2026 and may be subject to legislative change in the near future.
CJEU Settles Long-Standing Debate: Settlement Agreements With Commercial Agents During the Notice Period Are at Risk
Check whether your merger or acquisition needs prior clearance from competition authorities.
New EU sample retention rules coming up for veterinary medicines repackaged for parallel trade
The Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (EU) 2019/6 has applied in the EU since 28 January 2022, replacing Directive 2001/82/EC. The new rules on good manufacturing practice (GMP) will in turn be fleshed out by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2091, which will apply from 16 July 2026. In addition, the European Commission is introducing new GMP requirements concerning the retention of samples for veterinary medicinal products that are repackaged for parallel trade. This blog post briefly examines what these new obligations entail.
The CEPANI 2026 Arbitration Rules: 5 Key Changes
CEPANI, the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, has issued new Arbitration Rules entering into force on 1 June 2026, building on the modernisation achieved in the 2020 revision with the core objective of delivering a clearer, more efficient dispute resolution framework. Below is an overview of what we consider to be the five most noteworthy changes.
16 April 2026: AIFMD II Finally Takes Effect
After years of legislative process, the local transposition deadline of 16 April 2026 for AIFMD II (Directive 2024/927/EU) has finally arrived. This marks a significant milestone for the investment fund industry across the European Union, bringing with it a range of important changes for both fund managers and the vehicles they manage.
EU General Court bars patient association from challenging medicine authorisation refusal
In Case T‑278/25, the EU General Court recently dismissed as inadmissible a challenge brought by a patient advocacy association against the European Commission’s refusal to renew the conditional marketing authorisation for a treatment against Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The case is significant because it adds to the case law on contesting Commission decisions relating to the marketing of medicinal products. In this blog post, we look at how the Court came to the conclusion that the association lacked standing to litigate and use this as a basis for an informal categorisation of the existing case law.
Despite EU harmonisation, Member States may impose authorisation requirements on pharmacy-prepared medicines, rules EU Court of Justice
Under EU pharmaceutical law, certain medicines fall outside the scope of Directive 2001/83/EC (i.e. the Community code on medicinal products for human use). This includes “magistral formulae” (prepared in a pharmacy for an individual patient on prescription) and “officinal formulae” (prepared in a pharmacy in accordance with a pharmacopoeia and supplied directly to that pharmacy’s […]
EU General Court: technical vaccine data does not have to be disclosed on request
The EU General Court delivered a significant judgment concerning access to documents held by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), this time relating to a conditionally authorised COVID-19 vaccine. This case (T-623/22) serves as an addition to the elaborate case law on the balance between transparency in health matters and the protection of companies’ commercial interests. On this (rare) occasion, the commercial interests of the conditional marketing authorisation (‘MA’) holder prevailed, although an appeal is currently pending (C-38/26 P).
Belgium’s healthcare plans for 2026 – and where pharma fits in
Every year, Belgium’s federal ministers publish their policy notes for discussion in Parliament. They give a high-level snapshot of what each minister plans to focus on in the coming year. For the pharmaceutical industry, the healthcare policy noteis usually the one to watch. Interestingly, the economic policy notealso weighs in on pharma this year. In this blog post, we unpack the key policy signals for the pharmaceutical sector and group them around three main pillars: budget, accessibility, andpricing.