GPSR Compliance in Belgium
Belgium is home to EU institutions and has a unique bilingual compliance requirement that catches many non-EU sellers off guard. Product safety information must be available in both French and Dutch — here's what your store needs to do.
€25,000
Max fine per violation
€10B+
Ecommerce market size
8 million
Online shoppers BE
Dec 2024
GPSR in force since
Who enforces GPSR in Belgium?
Belgium's enforcement landscape is shaped by its federal structure — multiple authorities share responsibility, and proximity to EU institutions means Belgian enforcement often sets precedent across the bloc.
Consumer protection & ecommerce
FPS Economy
The Service Public Fédéral Économie (or Federale Overheidsdienst Economie in Dutch) is the primary authority for consumer protection and ecommerce compliance. It enforces the Code de droit économique, conducts online market surveillance, and handles GPSR product information requirements.
Product safety (health)
SPF Santé Publique
The Federal Public Service for Health handles product safety enforcement for health-related categories including cosmetics, food contact materials, and medical devices. It coordinates with FPS Economy on GPSR cases that involve potential health risks.
Data protection & cookies
APD / GBA
The Autorité de protection des données (APD) / Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit (GBA) enforces GDPR and cookie consent rules for Belgian-facing websites. It has issued substantial fines against major platforms and actively investigates cookie banner complaints from Belgian consumers.
Imports at the border
Customs (Zeebrugge / Antwerp)
Belgium hosts the ports of Antwerp (Europe's second-largest) and Zeebrugge. Belgian customs inspect incoming goods for GPSR documentation, CE marking, and responsible person information. Non-compliant imports can be seized and destroyed before entering the EU single market.
Belgian enforcement signals EU-wide: proximity to the Commission matters
Because the European Commission and Council are headquartered in Brussels, Belgian market surveillance authorities have a unique relationship with EU-level regulatory bodies. Enforcement actions in Belgium often inform how GPSR is interpreted and applied across all member states. A fine or recall issued by FPS Economy can quickly become a reference case cited in enforcement actions in other countries.
Belgium-specific compliance requirements
These requirements apply in addition to the general GPSR rules — the bilingual obligation is unique to Belgium and is the most commonly missed requirement by non-EU sellers.
Bilingual product safety information (French + Dutch)
CRITICALThis is Belgium's most distinctive compliance requirement. Safety warnings, usage instructions, and any hazard notices must be provided in both French and Dutch for stores selling to the Belgian market broadly. In the Brussels-Capital Region specifically, both languages are legally required by regional rules. A Dutch-only or French-only store will not be fully compliant.
Manufacturer or EU responsible person details
CRITICALThe name, registered address, and an electronic contact point for the manufacturer — or EU responsible person for non-EU sellers — must be clearly displayed on each product page. This information must itself be provided in the applicable language(s). FPS Economy actively checks product page completeness during market surveillance sweeps.
Product traceability identifier
CRITICALA model number, batch reference, or serial number must appear on each product page to enable traceability back to the manufacturer or production batch. This is required under GPSR Article 9 and is checked by both FPS Economy online audits and SPF Santé Publique for health-related product categories.
Ecommerce information under CDE Book XII
CRITICALBelgium's Code de droit économique Book XII requires online stores to display: full company identity, address, VAT number, email address, prices inclusive of all taxes and delivery costs, and the right of withdrawal notice. This is a Belgian statutory requirement that overlaps with but extends beyond GPSR — the FPS Economy enforces both together.
GPSR safety reporting channel
IMPORTANTConsumers must be able to report product safety concerns via a clearly accessible contact method. This channel must be easy to locate from product pages. Given Belgium's bilingual market, the contact mechanism should ideally accept messages in both French and Dutch.
Cookie consent (APD enforcement)
IMPORTANTThe APD (Autorité de protection des données / Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit) is the Belgian data protection authority. It enforces GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive for cookie consent. Belgian-facing stores must implement valid cookie consent — no pre-ticked analytics boxes, no tracking before consent. The APD coordinates with the FPS Economy on ecommerce compliance.
The EU Responsible Person for non-EU sellers
If your business is based outside the EU (UK, US, China, etc.) and you sell physical products to Belgian consumers, GPSR Article 4 requires an EU-established responsible person. Their name, address, and contact details must be displayed on product pages — in French and Dutch if serving the full Belgian market.
Importer
An EU-based company that purchases your products and resells them within the EU automatically takes on the responsible person role under GPSR Article 4(1). Their details replace the manufacturer details on product pages.
Authorised representative
A company or individual formally appointed in writing to represent you as the EU responsible person. They must be EU-registered, hold a signed mandate from you, and be reachable for regulatory communication from authorities like FPS Economy.
Fulfilment service provider
An EU-based warehouse that physically handles your products can act as responsible person. Belgium has major fulfilment infrastructure near Antwerp and Brussels that may already offer this service to clients.
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Frequently asked questions
Who enforces GPSR in Belgium?
GPSR in Belgium is primarily enforced by the FPS Economy (Service Public Fédéral Économie / Federale Overheidsdienst Economie) for consumer protection and ecommerce compliance. The SPF Santé Publique handles health-related product safety. Belgian customs at Antwerp and Zeebrugge enforce compliance at the point of import.
What are the fines for GPSR violations in Belgium?
Belgium's Code de droit économique sets fines up to €25,000 per violation. Criminal sanctions are possible for serious violations. Because Belgium hosts EU institutions, enforcement actions here often have outsized reputational consequences — and can influence how other member states approach similar cases.
Do I need both French and Dutch on my Belgian product pages?
Yes, if you are selling to Belgian consumers broadly. Belgium has two main language regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. Brussels-Capital is officially bilingual. For a national store serving all of Belgium, product safety information must be in both French and Dutch at minimum. English-only is not sufficient.
What is the CDE and how does it apply to my store?
The Code de droit économique (CDE) / Wetboek van economisch recht (WER) is Belgium's economic law framework. Book XII governs ecommerce and requires online stores to display company identity, address, VAT number, contact details, and complete price transparency. These requirements run alongside and extend beyond GPSR — FPS Economy enforces both simultaneously.