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    AI in Belgium: the rules, the readiness and where to start

    Last checked: 29 October 2026

    What should a company in Belgium know before starting with AI?

    In Belgium, AI that uses personal data falls under the GDPR and the Law of 30 July 2018, supervised by the Data Protection Authority (APD/GBA). The EU AI Act applies in stages; BIPT is preparing to be the main AI Act authority, but we could not confirm a formal legal designation as of 29 October 2026. The FPS Economy runs an information campaign for SMEs at aiactpourmoi.be.

    At a glance

    Belgium at a glance

    Key facts about Belgium
    Data protection lawGDPR and the Law of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data
    RegulatorData Protection Authority (APD in French, GBA in Dutch)
    AI policyEU AI Act applies; BIPT is preparing to act as main AI Act authority, formal designation not yet confirmed as of 29 October 2026
    Time zoneCET, UTC+1 in winter; CEST, UTC+2 in summer (India is 4.5 or 3.5 hours ahead)
    CurrencyEUR (euro)
    Business languageDutch, French and German; English is common in business

    Why now

    Why Belgium is worth watching

    Each point links to the document it comes from.

    • The FPS Economy reports that 34.54% of Belgian companies used AI in 2025, up from 24.71% in 2024, against an EU average of 19.95%.[7]

    • The same figures show 76.41% of large companies and 28.82% of small companies using AI in 2025.[7]

    • The FPS Economy launched an AI Act campaign for SMEs and start-ups on 15 December 2025, with a guide at aiactpourmoi.be.[6]

    • BIPT's January 2026 policy note says it is preparing for a central, coordinating role as AI Act market surveillance authority and notifying authority.[5]

    • Most of the EU AI Act applies from 2 August 2026, and the AI Omnibus moved high-risk rules for Annex III uses to 2 December 2027.[2]

    The rules

    The rules that matter for AI

    What each law or policy means when you build or buy an AI system.

    GDPR and the Law of 30 July 2018 on the processing of personal data

    In force2018The 2018 law is Belgium's framework data protection law alongside the GDPR. It applies to processing by a controller or processor established in Belgium, and to non-EU companies offering goods or services to people in Belgium. For AI this means a lawful basis, transparency and data minimisation for every use of personal data.[1]

    EU AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, as amended by the AI Omnibus

    Phased2024Banned practices and AI literacy have applied since 2 February 2025, general-purpose AI rules since 2 August 2025, and most other rules, such as chatbot transparency, from 2 August 2026. The AI Omnibus, in force since 27 July 2026, moved high-risk rules to 2 December 2027 for Annex III uses and 2 August 2028 for AI in regulated products.[2]

    Belgian AI Act supervision arrangements

    Draft2026BIPT says it is preparing to be the central market surveillance and notifying authority, and supports the FPS Economy, which coordinates implementation. The European Commission's list showed no Belgian contact point when last updated on 7 September 2026. We found no adopted Belgian law making the designation, so the status is not yet confirmed.[5]

    Where AI fits first

    Where AI fits first

    Small and medium businesses

    Office assistants for drafting, translation between Dutch, French and English, and internal search.

    AI use in small companies was 28.82% in 2025. The FPS Economy guide at aiactpourmoi.be helps check whether a system falls into an AI Act risk category.[6]

    Multilingual customer service

    Chatbots and email triage in Dutch, French and German.

    Under the AI Act, people must be told when they are talking to an AI system, from August 2026.[2]

    Recruitment and HR

    Sorting applications and drafting job texts, with a recruiter making the decision.

    Hiring AI is high-risk under Annex III from 2 December 2027. The APD's AI brochure explains how GDPR principles apply to AI systems.[4]

    Connected products and electronics

    AI features in connected devices, such as voice control or image recognition.

    BIPT already carries out market surveillance of radio equipment and has set up an IoT lab; it plans to extend this work to the AI Act.[5]

    Your first steps

    Your first steps

    1. Use the FPS Economy guide at aiactpourmoi.be to check whether your AI systems fall into an AI Act risk category.
    2. Read the APD's brochure on AI systems and the GDPR before building or buying AI that uses personal data.
    3. Train staff in AI literacy, which the AI Act has required since 2 February 2025.
    4. Tell users when they are dealing with a chatbot, in the language they use.
    5. Run a data protection impact assessment for AI that profiles people, and keep a person in decisions with significant effects.
    6. If personal data will be accessed from India or another non-EU country, put a GDPR transfer mechanism in place first.
    7. Watch for the Belgian law that formally names the AI Act authorities.

    AI services for Belgium

    AI consulting and development for teams in Belgium

    We work remotely with companies in Belgium, in your time zone, and keep your data under the rules described above.

    AI agents and automation

    Agents that finish multi-step work across your tools, with people approving what matters.
    Learn more

    Document Q&A (RAG)

    Answers from your own documents, with the source shown for every answer.
    Learn more

    AI governance and data protection

    Policies, review steps and audit trails that fit your local data law.
    Learn more

    Software and cloud engineering

    Web apps, integrations and cloud platforms built around your AI use case.
    Learn more

    How we work with you

    How we work with you

    We work remotely with clients worldwide, in the client's time zone. India (UTC+5:30) works 9:30 to 18:30, which is 04:00 to 13:00 UTC. In Belgian winter (UTC+1) that gives about 5 hours of overlap, 09:00 to 14:00 Brussels time; in summer (UTC+2) about 6 hours, 09:00 to 15:00. India has no EU adequacy decision, so any personal data we access from India needs a GDPR transfer mechanism such as standard contractual clauses.

    Questions

    Common questions about AI in Belgium

    Who enforces the AI Act in Belgium?

    Not confirmed as of 29 October 2026. BIPT says it is preparing to be the central market surveillance authority, and the FPS Economy coordinates implementation, but we found no adopted law making the formal designation.

    Does the AI Act apply without a Belgian law?

    Yes. It is an EU regulation and applies directly. National law is needed for supervision and penalties, not for the duties themselves.

    Where can a small company get help?

    The FPS Economy's site aiactpourmoi.be explains what the AI Act is, whether your company is affected and which obligations apply. The APD publishes guidance on AI and the GDPR.

    When do the high-risk AI rules start?

    On 2 December 2027 for Annex III uses such as hiring and credit scoring, and 2 August 2028 for AI in regulated products, after the EU AI Omnibus changed the dates.

    Complimentary tools

    Try these first

    Three complimentary tools from our AI Toolkit that suit a team starting out.

    AI readiness score

    Answer a few questions and see where your team stands, in about five minutes.
    Open the tool

    AI use case triage

    Test an idea against data, risk and effort before you spend on it.
    Open the tool

    AI project cost estimator

    Get a rough build and run cost range for a first AI project.
    Open the tool

    Read next

    Sources

    Sources

    Facts checked on 29 October 2026. Numbers in square brackets above match this list.
    1. [1] Belgian Official Journal (Moniteur belge), copy hosted by the Data Protection Authority, 2018-09-05. Law of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to…(dataprotectionauthority.be)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Law of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data. Primary. Published in the Moniteur belge on 5 September 2018. Used for the law's title and territorial scope (articles 2 and 4). Later amendments were not checked.

    2. [2] European Commission, 2026-10-19. AI Act: regulatory framework for AI(digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
      Full title and what we used it for

      AI Act: regulatory framework for AI. Primary. Used for the AI Act timeline and the AI Omnibus, which the page says entered into force on 27 July 2026. We could not open EUR-Lex directly.

    3. [3] European Commission, 2026-09-07. Market Surveillance Authorities under the AI Act(digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Market Surveillance Authorities under the AI Act. Primary. Used to note that no Belgian single point of contact was listed. Secondary trackers say a January 2025 government declaration named BIPT as main authority; we did not see that declaration.

    4. [4] Data Protection Authority (APD/GBA), 2024-09-19. L'APD publie une brochure informative et un dossier thématique dédiés à…(autoriteprotectiondonnees.be)
      Full title and what we used it for

      L'APD publie une brochure informative et un dossier thématique dédiés à l'IA. Primary. Used for the APD's brochure explaining GDPR requirements for AI systems and its audience.

    5. [5] Belgian Chamber of Representatives, 2026-01-26. Note de politique générale / Beleidsnota: BIPT (DOC 56 1282/007)(dekamer.be)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Note de politique générale / Beleidsnota: BIPT (DOC 56 1282/007). Primary. Used for BIPT preparing its central and coordinating role as AI Act market surveillance and notifying authority, its support to the FPS Economy, and its IoT lab.

    6. [6] FPS Economy (SPF Economie), 2025-12-15. AI Act : mon entreprise est-elle concernée ?(news.economie.fgov.be)
      Full title and what we used it for

      AI Act : mon entreprise est-elle concernée ?. Primary. Used for the SME campaign and the aiactpourmoi.be guide.

    7. [7] FPS Economy (SPF Economie), 2026-06-09. La Belgique parmi les leaders européens en matière d'IA(news.economie.fgov.be)
      Full title and what we used it for

      La Belgique parmi les leaders européens en matière d'IA. Primary. Used for AI use by 34.54% of companies in 2025 (24.71% in 2024), the EU average of 19.95%, and the shares for large and small companies.

    8. [8] European Commission, 2026-10-29. Adequacy decisions(commission.europa.eu)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Adequacy decisions. Primary, accessed on this date. Used to confirm India has no EU adequacy decision.

    This is general information, not legal advice. Belgium's AI Act authorities were not formally confirmed when we checked. Check with a qualified Belgian lawyer before you act. Facts checked on 29 October 2026.

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