A prudent retailer seeking to open a point of sale in Belgium should check compliance with the legislation on commercial establishments1 which may require a declaration and/or a permit prior to the effective opening date.
During various decades, the competence regarding commercial establishments was a competence of the Belgian federal state. Between 1975 and 2004 the Federal Act of 29 June 1975 on commercial establishments applied (the “1975 Act”). As of 1 March 2005, the 1975 Act was replaced by the Federal Act of 13 August 2004 on commercial establishments (as amended), hereafter referred to as the Federal 2004 Act.
Please see full publication below for more information.
