Nine Major Changes Take Effect in Belgium from June 1

A sweeping set of new measures enters into force across Belgium on June 1, 2026, touching healthcare, insurance, consumer spending, tobacco regulation, public sector employment, and home nursing. The changes, announced by the De Wever government, affect millions of Belgian citizens and residents across Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital. Here is what you need to know.

Healthcare: Expanded HPV Vaccination and Newborn Screening

One of the most significant health measures is the expansion of HPV vaccine reimbursement to all young adults aged 19 to 30. The Gardasil9 vaccine, which costs €120.59 per dose, will now cost patients just €12.80 per dose after reimbursement, with a full course requiring three doses. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described the vaccine as offering “effective protection against the most dangerous strains” of the virus. Approximately 60,000 additional vaccinations per year are expected, backed by a €6 million budget. High-risk groups remain covered up to age 45.

From June 1, newborns will also be tested for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a serious immune disorder, as part of the existing heel prick screening panel.

Insurance: Extended “Right to be Forgotten” for Cancer Survivors

Former cancer patients will no longer need to declare their past illness when taking out certain types of insurance. The “right to be forgotten,” which previously applied only to life insurance linked to mortgages, has now been extended to travel cancellation insurance. The measure, confirmed by insurance sector federation Assuralia, also covers certain controlled chronic diseases with variable waiting periods after recovery or stabilization. The goal is to prevent discrimination against former patients who previously faced higher premiums or outright rejection.

Tobacco: Neutral Packaging Extended to All Products

Belgium is strengthening its position as a European leader in tobacco plain packaging. From June 1, all tobacco and smoking products — including cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco, rolling papers, filters, tubes, and smoking accessories such as pipes, hookahs, and CBD devices — must be sold in standardized, neutral packaging. The rules have applied to cigarettes and rolling tobacco since 2020. A transition period means old packaging may remain on shelves for a few months. Minister Vandenbroucke stated the measure aims to “counter the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry, which targets adolescents and young adults,” as reported by TéléSambre.

Consumer: Eco-Cheques Expanded

The list of products eligible for purchase with eco-cheques has been expanded. New eligible items include food products and textiles with the Fairtrade label, certified sustainable aquaculture products (ASC label), and certain energy-efficient household appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washer-dryers. The changes were decided by the National Labour Council, where unions and employers sit together.

Employment: Railway Reform and End of Sick Pension for Civil Servants

A fundamental shift is underway in Belgium’s railway sector. From June 1, all new hires at SNCB/NMBS, Infrabel, and HR Rail will be employed under standard employment contracts rather than statutory civil servant status. Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke said the reform aims to modernize HR management in the rail sector, allowing SNCB and Infrabel to recruit and train directly.

Separately, new cases of long-term sick civil servants will no longer be placed in the definitive sick pension system, instead falling under the standard sickness insurance scheme. This gradually phases out a system involving tens of thousands of civil servants with a multi-billion euro cost.

Home Nursing: Pilot Project for Hourly Pay

A pilot project by INAMI, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance, will test hourly pay for over 1,000 home nurses instead of the current per-procedure model. Travel time is included in compensation. The two-year trial aims to better value tasks that are currently under- or unpaid, such as patient accompaniment and education.

Administrative Simplification: Automatic Reimbursement of Service Cheques

Expired service cheques (dienstencheques/titres-services) will now be automatically reimbursed, eliminating the need for users to file a request, provided the data is correctly registered in the system.

Analysis and Outlook

These measures reflect the De Wever government’s mix of social-democratic priorities — expanded healthcare access and patient protections — and liberal-centrist reforms focused on modernization and administrative simplification. The expansion of eco-cheques aligns with EU Green Deal objectives, while the phase-out of the civil servant sick pension system addresses long-standing fiscal pressures.

Looking ahead, the home nursing pilot could reshape community healthcare funding if it leads to nationwide reform. The railway workforce transition may face resistance from unions concerned about worker protections. For Belgian citizens, the message is clear: review insurance coverage, check eligibility for updated healthcare benefits, and take advantage of expanded eco-cheque options as these changes take effect.

Reporting based on information from RTBF, Econostrum, P-Magazine, and TéléSambre.