On Sep. 29, 2023, BEL GVT published law of Jul. 20, 2023 amending the law of Jun. 13, 2005 relating to electronic communications, with a view to the partial transposition of EU directive 2019/882 of Apr. 17, 2019 relating to requirements in accessibility matters applicable to products and services, applicable on Jun. 28, 2025.
On the same day, BEL GVT published law of Jul. 20, 2023 amending the law of May 5, 2017 relating to audiovisual media services in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital with a view to the partial transposition of EU directive 2019/882 of Apr. 17, 2019 on accessibility requirements for products and services, applicable on Jun. 28, 2025.
In Oct. 2023, BEL GVT issued law on electronic communications social tariff, #187122.
On Jul. 15, BEL PRL adopted 2 bills to partially apply accessibility dir.
BEL PRL adopted two bills 55K3413 and 55K3412, which partially transposed EU dir 2019/882 of Apr. 17, 2019, on the accessibility requirements for products and services.
Follows EU Jun. 2019 directive known as European accessibility act, see #147976.
The aim of these bills is to apply the EU dir in areas re wireless equipment, electronic communications, audiovisual media services in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital.
Bill 55K3413
BEL PRL adopted bill 55K3413amending the law of Jun. 13, 2005 on electronic communications, partially transposing directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements applicable to products and services.
Re wireless equipment, a new article 38/1 was inserted in the law of Jun. 13, 2005.
In order to list the wireless equipment covered by the accessibility requirements.
And deal with two exceptions where the manufacturers, agents, importers and distributors of wireless equipment, will not be required to respect those requirements.
For cases where the requirements' compliance would be a disproportionate burden.
The King will establish the criteria of the existence of such a disproportionate burden.
Re electronic communications services, art 121/4 of law of Jun.13, 2005, is completed.
To set out the framework of accessibility requirements applicable to service providers.
New paras 3 to 6 provide for an obligation to design electronic communications services in accordance with the accessibility requirements for users with disabilities.
And for a series of exemptions for providers offering services M2M, microenterprises, providers demonstrating that compliance would impose a disproportionate burden.
The King will set the requirements and the criteria for the disproportionate burden.
Bill 55K3412
BEL PRL adopted bill 55K3412amending the law of May 5, 2017 on audiovisual media services in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital, partially transposing directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services.
Under Belgian law, accessibility requirements need to be implemented by two types of actors which are the audiovisual media service providers and the service distributors.
These two categories are included under the concept of media service providers in the media law; and their common obligations are included in the new articles 3/2 to 3/5.
Amendments in order to extend to distributors the accessibility rules already applicable to media service providers and set out the requirements applicable to such providers.
To set up an exemption for micro-enterprises and suppliers which would demonstrate that compliance with the requirements would represent a disproportionate burden.
The King will set the requirements and the criteria for the disproportionate burden.
Effectiveness
Both bills were submitted for royal assent; will enter into force on Jun. 28, 2025.
Sep. 2023 Laws Published
On Sep. 29, 2023, BEL GVT published law of Jul. 20, 2023 amending the law of Jun. 13, 2005 relating to electronic communications, with a view to the partial transposition of EU directive 2019/882 of Apr. 17, 2019 relating to requirements in accessibility matters applicable to products and services, applicable on Jun. 28, 2025.
On the same day, BEL GVT published law of Jul. 20, 2023 amending the law of May 5, 2017 relating to audiovisual media services in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital with a view to the partial transposition of EU directive 2019/882 of Apr. 17, 2019 on accessibility requirements for products and services, applicable on Jun. 28, 2025.
In Oct. 2023, BEL GVT issued law on electronic communications social tariff, #187122.
Regulators
BEL GVT; BEL PRL
Entity Types
CNSM; Corp
Reference
OG 2023045611, OG 2023045610, 9/29/2023; Law 7/20/2023; PR, 7/15/2023, Bill 55K3413, Bill 55K3412, 7/13/2023, Law 6/13/2005; Law 5/5/2017; Dir 2019/882
Functions
Compliance; Human Rights; Legal; Operations; Technology
