Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 05 JUNE 2026

Auto-renewing A Consumer Contract? From 1 May 2027, Prior Notice Is Required

ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Contributor
ALTIUS

ALTIUS

ALTIUS is one of the largest Belgian independent law firms. Established in Brussels and...

View firm profile
Explore more from ALTIUS

Belgium's new Act of 20 April 2026 introduces a mandatory notification requirement for businesses using automatic renewal clauses in consumer contracts. Starting 1 May 2027, companies must inform consumers at least 15 days before their deadline to object to renewal, adding a proactive layer to existing contract disclosure rules.

BelgiumConsumer Protection
Mathieu Maniet
Mathieu Maniet
Oisin O'Halpin
Oisin O'Halpin
Author LinkedIn connections

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.

The existing and new rules are set out in Article VI.91 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law and apply to:

  • B2C service contracts (e.g. fitness, streaming, app subscriptions); and
  • B2C contracts combining the sale of goods with a service element (e.g. a mobile service contract that includes a mobile phone). Goods-only sales contracts fall outside the scope. 

What do the existing rules already require?

If you are offering fixed-term contracts to consumers, the law already sets requirements for automatic renewal clauses.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

EU Commission Pushes for Transposition of the EmpCo Directive on Environmental Claims

The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against 20 EU Member States for failing to transpose the EmpCo Directive by the March 27, 2026 deadline. This directive aims to combat greenwashing by requiring substantiation of environmental claims and third-party certification for sustainability labels, with full implementation expected by September 27, 2026.
European UnionConsumer Protection
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Belgium Transposes The EmpCo Directive: Consumer Law Gets Tougher On Greenwashing

Belgium has transposed the EU's EmpCo Directive into national law, introducing stricter rules against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims. The new legislation expands the blacklist of unfair commercial practices and imposes additional pre-contractual information obligations on businesses. How will these changes impact companies making sustainability claims and selling products with digital elements?
BelgiumConsumer Protection
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

New European Regulations For Webshops: Will An Online Withdrawal Button Become Mandatory?

New EU regulations introduce mandatory online withdrawal functions for e-commerce, requiring companies to provide easily accessible, clearly labeled cancellation tools with two-step confirmation processes. Companies must verify their webshops comply with specific criteria including permanent availability throughout withdrawal periods and explicit confirmation buttons to prevent unintentional cancellations.
BelgiumConsumer Protection
Monard law
Monard law
Article

Limited Payment Terms In B2B Relationships

New Belgian legislation introduces stricter payment terms for business-to-business transactions, capping payment periods at 60 days and eliminating contractual flexibility around invoice receipt dates. The Act of 14 August 2021 strengthens protections for creditors by imposing automatic penalties on late-paying debtors, including a 10.5% interest rate and fixed recovery costs, fundamentally reshaping commercial payment practices.
BelgiumCorporate/Commercial Law
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

Belgium Transposes The EmpCo Directive: Consumer Law Gets Tougher On Greenwashing

Belgium has transposed the EU's EmpCo Directive into national law, introducing stricter rules against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims. The new legislation expands the blacklist of unfair commercial practices and imposes additional pre-contractual information obligations on businesses. How will these changes impact companies making sustainability claims and selling products with digital elements?
BelgiumConsumer Protection
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

Screws Loose? The CJEU Weighs In On A Trade Mark Parody Gone Political

The Court of Justice of the European Union has delivered a landmark judgment addressing whether political parody and freedom of expression can justify the unauthorized use of a famous trade mark. When Belgian political party Vlaams Belang appropriated IKEA's distinctive branding to promote its immigration reform programme, the resulting legal battle forced European courts to balance fundamental rights: the trade mark owner's property rights against the political actor's freedom of expression.
BelgiumIntellectual Property
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

Belgian Pharma Law Summer Blog Series (Part 3): The Recently Passed ‘Bill Containing Various Provisions On Health’

Belgium's federal Chamber of Representatives has adopted a comprehensive bill introducing significant changes to pharmaceutical reimbursement procedures, including simplified approval tracks, new combination therapy rules, and an 80 million EUR annual industry contribution. The legislation also addresses drug unavailability issues and postpones certain 2024 reforms until 2028, fundamentally reshaping the financial and operational landscape for pharmaceutical companies operating in Belgium.
BelgiumFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

Mandatory Registration Of Working Time As Of 2027: The Clock Is Ticking

Belgium is set to implement mandatory working time registration by January 2027, following a 2019 European Court of Justice ruling that requires EU Member States to establish objective and reliable systems for measuring employee working hours. A draft bill has been submitted to the National Labour Council, outlining requirements for employers across all sectors while providing specific exemptions for certain employee categories and offering flexibility in implementation methods.
BelgiumEmployment and HR
ALTIUS
ALTIUS
Article

New Book 7 Of The Belgian Civil Code: What You Need To Know

Belgium's Civil Code undergoes a major transformation with the introduction of Book 7 on special contracts, consolidating and modernizing rules for everyday agreements including sales, leases, and service contracts. With entry into force set for September 2027, businesses must prepare to review their standard agreements and contractual frameworks. This reform particularly impacts the real estate and construction sector through revised lease regimes, construction contract rules, and new provisions on ownersh
BelgiumCorporate/Commercial Law
ALTIUS
ALTIUS