ALTIUS

New EU De-minimis Registration Obligation: What Businesses Receiving Public Subsidies Need to Know

As of 1 January 2026, the administrative landscape for de-minimis aid in the EU has changed significantly. Businesses that receive public subsidies should understand how this new system works – and what it means in practice.

A Protocol for IP Disputes at the Brussels Enterprise Court

The Dutch-speaking Enterprise Court of Brussels has long been a central forum for intellectual property litigation in Belgium. On 2 March 2026, a protocol entered into force setting out best practices for interactions between lawyers and the court in IP matters. Its aim is straightforward...

Game-changing rules for managing sick leave: What every employer must know now

On 1 January 2026, new legal rules entered into force aimed at accelerating the reintegration of incapacitated employees. They include important changes to the reintegration track and the force majeure track, as well as the obligation for employers to include a procedure for maintaining contact ...

The new Product Liability Directive

The new Product Liability Directive (“PLD”) replaced the old Product Liability Directive (Directive 85/375/EEC) and aims to bring the European Union’s product liability regime ‘up to speed’ with the digital age, circular economy business models and global supply chains. It also focuses on ...

Be ready for the long-awaited Flemish duty of care obligation in the construction sector

From 1 January 2026, a duty of care obligation applies to clients and (sub)contractors active in the construction sector. Some years ago, the Flemish government launched the idea of optimising contractor chain responsibility schemes in case of illegal employment, but actual implementation ...

Belgian Parliament has adopted urgent 2026 healthcare budget measures: impact on the pharma industry

Over the Christmas break, the Belgian Parliament adopted an urgent law with several measures linked to the approved 2026 healthcare budget, with effect from 1 January 2026. The law is intentionally limited to provisions that must enter into force immediately to ensure that the required savings ...

1/1/2026: Take a look at your autonomous lease guarantees with the entry into force of Title1 of Boo

As of 1 January 2026, Title 1 “Personal securities” of Book IX “Securities” of the new Belgian Civil Code has entered into force and does apply to all new personal securities being vested (even in relation to a principal agreement which is already in place before such date)...

EU Reaches Pharma Package Deal: Key Changes at a Glance

On 11 December 2025, following overnight negotiations, the Council and the European Parliament announced a political agreement on the long-awaited Pharma Package (see here). The reform seeks to update the EU’s pharmaceutical rulebook to facilitate access to safe and affordable treatments ...

The circulation of judgments between Belgium and the United Kingdom

Brexit dismantled the Brussels I Recast regime for the UK and resulted in a fragmented framework of domestic rules and a residual treaty. However, the entry into force of the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention for the UK partially restores judicial cooperation in the post-Brexit era.

The 10 EUR meal voucher is officially here

In its Coalition Agreement, the government had already announced that during this legislative term, the maximum amount of meal vouchers would be increased twice by 2 EUR. A first increase - from 8 EUR to a maximum of 10 EUR - was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 17 November 2025...

Belgian Constitutional Court strikes down pharma industry ‘unavailability contribution’

The Belgian Constitutional Court (“CC”), on 6 November 2025, annulled some provisions of the Law of 18 May 2024 containing various provisions on health and finance, striking down the pharma industry ‘unavailability contribution’.

A medical certificate: not always what it seems

When an employee is unable to work due to illness, the employer may request a medical certificate. This obligation usually stems from the work rules. A medical certificate confirms the incapacity for work and its likely duration...

Pay more to your employees and less to the social security regime

In Belgium, employers’ social security contributions have always been due on an employee’s full uncapped salary. The Programme Act of 18 July 2025 caused a ‘minor earthquake’ by introducing, for the first time, a cap on employers’ social security contributions providing that, from 1 July 2025, ...

Food Hygiene for Fish: EU General Court Requires Scientific Basis to “Clarify” the Law

Food company Mowi Poland successfully challenged the European Commission’s new hygiene rules governing ‘stiffening’—a specialised fish processing technique—on the grounds that the Commission failed to obtain mandatory scientific consultation...

Belgium’s Pre-Pack Procedure: A Two-Year Reality Check

​Introduced in 2023 to help companies prepare a discreet business transfer before declaring bankruptcy, Belgium’s pre-pack procedure promised confidentiality, speed and value preservation. Two years later, practice shows both clear advantages and persistent legal uncertainties...

100 Deals, Zero Rejections: What Belgium’s FDI Report for 2024-2025 Reveals

The Belgian Interfederal Screening Commission (ISC) has released its Annual Report on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Screening 2024–2025, providing valuable insights into how the country has tried between July 2024 and June 2025 to navigate the fine line between remaining an open economy and ...

Combination therapies in Belgium: how to collaborate without breaching competition law

As the landscape of modern medicine evolves, combination therapies—those that use two or more distinct medicines, often from different companies—are becoming increasingly vital, especially in treating complex diseases like cancer...

Employer of Record in Belgium: the Flemish Government clarifies its position

In our September 2022 newsletter[1], we discussed the rise of Employers of Record (EoR) in Belgium. Despite the grey legal area in which EoRs operate, their number has continued to grow in recent years...

Sports federations face Belgian Competition Authority Scrutiny in two interim measures cases

The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has recently ruled on two requests for interim measures against sports federations. In one case, the BCA examined new rules in Belgian football that require a minimum number of Under-23 (U23) teams in the second division...

Titanium dioxide: General Court strikes down classification as human carcinogen and ECJ now confirms

The European Commission often relies on scientific evidence for its regulatory decisions. But when challenged, how much deference is owed to the regulator’s interpretation of the underlying science?...

Two kiwis a day to chase constipation away – European Commission approves fruit health claim

The European Commission has authorised a new food health claim recognising the digestive health benefits of green kiwifruit. The claim—“Consumption of green kiwifruit contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency”—has recently been added to the Union list of permitted claims.

The future of defence procurement: the proposed amendments to European Directive 2009/81/EC

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the European Commission launched a proposal to amend Directive 2009/81/EC on public procurement in the fields of defence and security. Unlike the public procurement directives for the classical and utilities sectors, this legislation did not receive an update in 2014

Procurement of medical devices: New measures between the EU and China

Since 30 June 2025, the EU bars Chinese firms from bids over EUR 5 million and limits Chinese products to 50% in medical device contracts, responding to China’s reciprocal restrictions.

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 7 – Gift cards

This seventh part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series presents best practices for issuing gift cards.

From additional fees to ‘fast lanes’: 10 upcoming changes in Flemish labour migration

On 9 May 2025, the Flemish government approved the Flemish Minister for Work’s new concept note on labour migration in Flanders. This note introduces 𝟭𝟬 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 that reshape how employers recruit talent from outside the EU.

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 6 - Coupons and vouchers

This sixth part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series lists the mandatory information to be provided when issuing titles giving a right to a discount, a subsequent refund of the price or a part of the price (such as coupons, vouchers etc.).

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 5 – Promotional contests

This fifth part of our series presents best practice in joint offers. Retailers frequently run games and contests in stores, online, and on social media. While some common practices don’t fully comply with Belgian law, adhering to a few simple rules helps avoid legal risks with minimal effort.

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 4 – “Buy One, Get One Free?”

This fourth part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series presents best practice in joint offers.

Skipping indexations: myth or fact?

In its judgment of 27 February 2025,[1] the Brussels labour court ruled that an employer in the insurance sector was entitled to unilaterally terminate the company practice of indexing full gross monthly wages exceeding the highest sector-level pay scale...

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 3 – Liquidation sales

This third part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series outlines when a retailer can sell in liquidation and the rules that it must follow.