Latest Legal News

On 18 July 2026, the Belgian Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft law partially transposing the revised EU Product Liability Directive into Belgian law. The reform modernises the strict-liability regime for defective products and extends it to new technologies, including software, artificial intelligence and connected products. It also aims to make it easier for injured persons to prove claims involving technically complex products. The preliminary draft must still be reviewed by the Belgian Council of State and pass through the legislative process.

Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, the Digital Omnibus on AI, entered into force on 27 July 2026. It introduces targeted amendments to the EU AI Act intended to simplify implementation, extend certain timelines and support innovation, while preserving safeguards for safety and fundamental rights. The reform does not postpone the AI Act as a whole. Businesses should recalibrate their implementation programmes rather than suspend them.

On 20 July 2026, the European Commission published its final guidelines on the transparency obligations under Article 50 of the EU AI Act. The obligations apply from 2 August 2026 and are intended to help individuals recognise when they are interacting with AI or are exposed to AI-generated or manipulated content. The guidelines clarify which providers and deployers are covered, the relevant exceptions and how compliance can be demonstrated in practice.

On 16 July 2026, the Belgian Parliament approved Book 7 of the Belgian Civil Code, which reforms the legal framework for special contracts. The reform is also relevant for technology companies. Its rules on sale, lease and services may affect hardware sales, software development, implementation, IT consultancy, maintenance, managed services and other technology-related agreements.