Since Sept. 21, 2024, all sellers selling goods online to Belgian consumers must offer at least two different delivery options. With these new regulations, the Belgian government aims to make e-commerce greener and more sustainable. Below you can read all about the new obligation and the exceptions that apply.
At least two delivery options
From now on, every online seller must offer Belgian consumers at least two delivery options. Sellers can choose which options to offer. Popular choices include:
- Home delivery
- Delivery at pickup points or parcel machines
- Delivery in local outlets
Furthermore, sellers are free to charge different rates for the delivery options they choose. For example, delivery to a postal point can usually be cheaper than home delivery. This allows customers to consider both convenience and cost when choosing their delivery option.
Three important exceptions
The new delivery obligation does not apply in three cases:
- Start-ups: Companies established less than three years ago are exempt from this requirement. This gives new entrepreneurs sufficient space to further set up their logistics processes.
- Specific goods or delivery locations: If specific circumstances allow only one delivery option, a second delivery option is not mandatory. This applies, for example, to meals (where home delivery is the only option), heavy goods that can only be transported by specialized carriers, or products that need to be delivered and installed at a specific location, such as flowers for events.
- Store pickup: If the only delivery option is to pick up the order at the store or a company pickup point, the obligation also does not apply. For example, consider supermarket orders that can only be picked up in the store itself.
Also applicable for foreign webshops
The law applies to all goods bought online and delivered in Belgium, even if they come from foreign online stores. This means that non-Belgian sellers operating in the Belgian market must comply with these regulations unless they fall under one of the exceptions.
Goal: more sustainable online shopping
By making consumers aware of alternative delivery options besides home delivery, the government hopes to reduce the ecological impact of online purchases. It is expected that more consumers will choose a more environmentally friendly option, such as pickup at a collection point, thereby reducing the number of transport movements and pressure on the road network.
