30.09.2020

Travel to and from “third countries” remains prohibited with few exceptions. Essential travel to and from Belgium is allowed, while respecting restrictions (see question on quarantine).

For more information you can visit:
Info coronavirus
diplomatie.belgium.be

                                                                                                   

14.09.2020


Residents of countries from outside the EU and Schengen area or from a high risk area (“red zone”) as defined by the Belgian authorities at diplomatie.belgium.be may not enter the Belgian territory, except in specific cases.

A mandatory PCR test and quarantine of 14 days are required upon arrival or return of Belgian nationals or residents in Belgium from outside the EU and Schengen area or from a high risk area ("red zone") located within the EU or Schengen area, as defined by the Belgian authorities at diplomatie.belgium.be (while they are recommended for "orange zones").

From 1/8/20, all persons returning to Belgium or travelling through Belgium, and who are staying at least 48 hours, must fill out a Passenger Locator Form.


Local authorities have the flexibility and authority to adapt travel restrictions and non-essential activities in accordance with the epidemiological situation in their area.

Before continuing your reading, please note:

  • The advice below only concerns non-essential travel such as tourism​.
  • It is forbidden to travel to countries not mentioned below, except for essential travel.
  • This overview is based on currently available information obtained through CELEVAL and FPS Public Health. When necessary, this information will be updated daily at 16h. No rights can be derived from this overview


Extract from https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en


From Belgium Travel is possible:

Austria: province of Carinthia

France: Department of Creuze

Italy: Regions of Piemonte, Aosta Valley, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Marche

Liechtenstein 

Poland: Regions of West Pomeranian, Lubusz, Lower Silesian, Opole, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Warmian-Masurian, Lódz, Swietokrzyskie, Lublin, Podlaskie, Greater Poland, Silesia, Mazovia, and the region of Warsaw

Portugal : Region of  the Center

Sweden: Regions of Stockholm and  Upper Norrland

Switzerland : Cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Glarus, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Sankt-Gallen, Graubünden, Thurgau, Lucerne, Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Ticino.

Travel is possible under conditions:

Cyprus (mandatory test)

Estonia (quarantine)

Germany (mandatory test or quarantine < Brussels-Capital Region) 

Greece (mandatory test)

Iceland (mandatory test or quarantine)

Ireland (quarantine) 

Italy (mandatory test only for Sardinia)

Latvia (quarantine)  

Lithuania (mandatory test and quarantine)

Netherlands (quarantine < city of Antwerp and Brussels-Capital Region) 

Norway (quarantine) 

Portugal (mandatory test only for the Azores and Madeira)

Slovakia (quarantine)  

Slovenia (quarantine) 

United Kingdom (quarantine)


Increased vigilance for:

Austria: provinces of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vorarlberg, Salzburg, Burgenland, Styria and Tyrol

Bulgaria 

Czech Republic: Regions of Northwest, Central Moravia and Moravia-Silesia

Croatia: Zagreb (city and province); provinces of Bjelovar-Bilogora, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, Varaždin, Međimurje, Koprivnica-Križevci and Krapina-Zagorje.

France: Departments of Aisne, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Ardèche, Ardennes, Ariège, Aube, Aude, Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Cantal, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Cher, Corrèze, Côtes-d’Armor, Deux-Sèvres, Dordogne, Doubs, Drôme, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Finistère, Haut-Rhin, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Loire, Haute-Marne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Saône, Haute-Savoie, Haute-Vienne, Indre, Jura, Landes, Loir-et-Cher, Loire-Atlantique, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Lozère, Manche, Marne, Mayenne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Morbihan, Moselle, Nièvre, Oise, Orne, Saint Martin, Savoie, Somme, Saône-et-Loire, Tarn, Territoire de Belfort, Vendée, Vosges, Yonne 

Germany: Regions of Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Middle Franconia, Swabia, Freiburg, Upper Palatinate, Upper Franconia, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Braunschweig, Hanover, Weser-Ems.

Greece

Ireland: Eastern and Midland; Southern Ireland

Italy: Regions of Veneto, Liguria, Lombardy, Campania, Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Puglia, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Umbria, Lazio and the Autonomous Provinces of Bolzano and Trento.

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands: provinces of Groningen, North-Brabant, Utrecht, Limburg, Gelderland and Flevoland

Norway: Regions of Oslo and Viken; Western Norway

Poland: provinces of Lesser Poland, Subcarpathia, Pomerania

Portugal: Lisbon metropolitan area, Northern Portugal, Algarve, Alentejo

San Marino

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain: islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma

Sweden: Middle East Sweden, Småland and islands, South Sweden, West Sweden, Middle North Sweden and Middle Norrland

Switzerland:  cantons of Valais, Jura, Aargau, Bern, Geneva, Solothurn, Neuchâtel, Basel-Stadt, Zürich, Schwyz and Zug 

United Kingdom: North East England, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber, West Central Scotland, Southern Scotland, Northern Ireland

Vatican


Travel is not possible or not authorised:

Andorra 

Austria: province of Vienna

Croatia : Provinces of Split-Dalmatia, Brod-Posavina, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Požega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina, Lika-Senj, Zadar and Šibenik-Knin

Czech Republic:  regions of Prague, Central Bohemia, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast

Denmark

Finland

France:  Ville de Paris ; Departments Ain,  Alpes-Maritimes, Aveyron,  Bouches-du-Rhône,  Corse-du-Sud,  Côte-d’Or, Essonne,  Gard,  Gers,  Guadeloupe,  French Guyana,  Gironde,  Haute-Corse,  Haute-Garonne,  Hauts-de-Seine, Hérault, d’Ille-et-Vilaine, d’Indre-et-Loire, Isère,  Loire,  Loiret,  Maine-et-Loire,  Martinique, de Mayotte,  Nord,  Pas-de-Calais,  Puy-de-Dôme,  Pyrénées-Atlantiques,  Pyrénées-Orientales,  Réunion,  Rhône,  Sarthe, de Seine-et-Marne,  Seine-Maritime,  Seine-Saint-Denis, de Tarn-et-Garonne,  Val-d’Oise,  Val-de-Marne,  Var,  Vaucluse,  Vienne,  Yvelines

Hungary

Monaco

Netherlands: provinces of South-Holland, North-Holland

Romania

Spain except the islands of Tenerife El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma

Switzerland: cantons of Fribourg and Vaud

United Kingdom: North West England

Returning from abroad:

From August, 1st, all persons returning to Belgium and all persons travelling through Belgium and who are staying at least 48 hours must fill out an identification form (Passenger Locator Form). You can find this form here (link is external)


Mandatory quarantine (*) and test on return from:

All countries outside the EU and Schengen

Andorra 

Austria: province of Vienna (from 18/09 at 16.00)

Croatia : provinces of Split-Dalmatia, Brod-Posavina, Zadar and Sibenik-Knin, Dubrovnik-Neretva and Požega-Slavonia.

From 18/09 at 16.00, the following regions will be red zones: provinces of Virovitica-Podravina, Lika-Senj

Czech Republic:  Prague region

From 18/09 at 16.00, the following regions will be red zones: Central Bohemia, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast

France: Ville de Paris ; Departments of Ain,  Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Corse-du-Sud, Côte-d’Or, Essonne, Gard, Guadeloupe, Guyane française, Gironde, Haute-Corse, Haute-Garonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Hérault,  Loiret, Martinique, Réunion,  Rhône, Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-d’Oise,  Val-de-Marne, Var, Vaucluse and Yvelines.

From 18/09 at 16.00, the following regions will be red zones: Departments of Aveyron, Gers, Ille-et-Vilaine, Indre-et-Loire, Isère, Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Nord, Pas-de-Calais,  Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées-Orientales, Sarthe, Seine-Maritime, Tarn-et-Garonne, Vienne.

Hungary: Budapest (from 18/09 at 16.00)

Monaco 

Netherlands: Provinces of South-Holland and North-Holland (from 18/09 at 16.00)

Romania

Spain except the islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma

Switzerland: canton of Freiburg 

From 18/09 at 16.00, the following regions will be red zones: canton of Vaud

United Kingdom: North West England (from 18/09 at 16.00)


Quarantine (*) and test are recommended on return from: 


Austria: provinces of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vienna, Vorarlberg, Salzburg, Burgenland, Styria and Tyrol

Bulgaria

Croatia: Zagreb (city and province); provinces of Bjelovar-Bilogora, Virovitica-Podravina, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina, Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, Varaždin, Međimurje, Koprivnica-Križevci, Krapina-Zagorje 

Czech Republic: Regions of Central Bohemia, Southwest, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast; Central Moravia and Moravia-Silesia

Denmark 

France: Departments of Aisne, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Ardèche, des Ardennes, Ariège, Aube, Aude, Aveyron, Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Cantal, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Cher, Corrèze, Côtes-d’Armor, Deux-Sèvres, Dordogne, Doubs, Drôme, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Finistère, Gers, Haut-Rhin, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Loire, Haute-Marne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Saône, Haute-Savoie, Haute-Vienne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Isère, Jura, Landes, Loir-et-Cher, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Lozère, Maine-et-Loire, Manche, Marne, Mayenne, Mayotte, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Morbihan, Moselle,  Nièvre, Nord, Oise, Orne, Pas-de-Calais, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques,  Pyrénées-Orientales, Saint Martin, Savoie, Seine-Maritime, Somme,  Saône-et-Loire, Sarthe, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Territoire de Belfort,  Vendée, Vienne, Vosges, and Yonne 

Germany: Regions of Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Middle Franconia, Swabia, Freiburg, Upper Palatinate, Upper Franconia, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Braunschweig, Hanover, Weser-Ems.

Greece

Hungary

Ireland: Eastern and Midland; Southern Ireland

Italy: Regions of Veneto, Liguria, Lombardy, Campania, Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Puglia, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Umbria, Lazio; Autonomous Provinces of Bolzano and Trento.

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands: provinces of South-Holland, North-Holland, Groningen, North-Brabant, Utrecht, Limburg, Gelderland and Flevoland

Norway: Regions of Oslo and Viken; Western NorwayPoland: provinces of Lesser Poland, Subcarpathia, Pomerania.

Portugal: Lisbon metropolitan area, Northern Portugal, Algarve, Alentejo

San Marino

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain: islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma

Sweden:  Middle East Sweden, Småland and islands, South Sweden, West Sweden, Middle North Sweden and Middle Norrland

Switzerland: cantons of Vaud, Valais, Jura, Aargau, Bern, Geneva, Solothurn, Neuchâtel, Basel-Stadt, Zürich Schwyz and Zug 

United Kingdom: North East England, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, Wales, North West England, Yorkshire and Humber, West Central Scotland, Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland

Vatican


      No mandatory quarantine or medical visit necessary

The other zones in the EU, Schengen and the United Kingdom


                                                                                                   

10.08.2020

Travelling to and from EU countries is, in general, allowed.
Travelling to and from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as the United Kingdom, is in general allowed.

Travellers to or from Belgium should check the latest information on travel advice available at diplomatie.belgium.be (updated daily at 16h)

Travel to and from “third countries” remains prohibited with few exceptions. Essential travel to and from Belgium is allowed, while respecting restrictions (see question on quarantine).

Rules and Exceptions

Before entering or leaving Belgium, please check the latest information on travel advice (with particular reference to "red zones" and "orange zones") at diplomatie.belgium.be.
A mandatory PCR test and quarantine of 14 days are required upon arrival or return from "red zones" (while they are recommended for "orange zones"). For "red zones", travel may not be possible or not authorised.

Mandatory Travel Documentation

From 1/8/20, all persons returning to Belgium and all persons travelling through Belgium and who are staying at least 48 hours must fill out a Passenger Locator Form.

Specific measures for Belgian residents exiting or returning to Belgium

Check the travel advice by country

Check the latest information on travel advice (with particular reference to "red zones" and "orange zones") at diplomatie.belgium.be.

Links to national sources
diplomatie.belgium.be
www.info-coronavirus.be

Documents you need to travel in Europe

Source: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/BEL


17.04.2020

Protective equipment
Export

Despite the fact that procurement has increased and additional production has been
encouraged, the current level of Union production and existing stocks of protective
equipment will not be sufficient to meet the demand within the Union. Therefore, the EU
has issued Regulation 2020/402 of 14 March to control the export of protective
equipment.
For the Belgian Customs Administration, that means:

o Selection system does not release the items of the annex of the
regulation for export. Goods can only be cleared for export after verifying
officers confirm that the shipment does not contain protective equipment
OR if a license is available.
o The necessary capacity is provided for the control of the measures
o There is ongoing concertation with major Belgian industrial stakeholders
on the operational side of the regulation
o The competent authority provides certification for traders that are not
targeted by the regulation (e.g. protective gear for automotive industry
that has no medical use).

Import

The Belgian Customs Administration issued temporary measures to allow relief of VAT
and Customs duties for donations of equipment for the protection of personnel.
The relief is based on articles 57 – 58 of regulation 1186/2009.

Disinfectants, sanitizers, etc.

Pharmacists shall be allowed, as an exception and for a limited time, to store and use
ethanol. We do require the beneficiaries of the exceptional rules to hold a register.
As a second measure, to increase the production of base substances for disinfectant
sprays and liquids, the Belgian Customs Administration temporarily broadens the
products that can be used for denaturation for this purpose. This enables pharmacists
and hospitals to use alcohols to produce disinfectants based on stocks of available
alcohols that would otherwise receive another destination (industrial use, destruction,
etc.)

Measures for customs officers

The minister of Internal Affairs and Safety has listed the Customs Administration as an
essential service for the vital functions of the Kingdom of Belgium.
This means the Customs Administration will continue its core function of protecting the
interests of the Union and facilitate trade.

1. Measures aiming to Facilitate the Cross-border Movement of Relief and
Essential Supplies

1.1. Belgian Customs maintains presence and service at all points of entry
1.2. For hospitals, Belgian Customs has a procedure to rapidly identify the goods upon
arrival and confirm whether they are allowed on the EU market by the competent
authorities. The hotline can be reached 24/7.
1.3. There is a single point of contact to report possible bottlenecks on logistics. There
are weekly high level calls with representatives of the Belgian economic sector.

2. Measures aiming at Supporting the Economy and Sustaining Supply Chain Continuity

2.1. For the Customs Transit procedure, more flexibility has been allowed, respecting
the constraints of the European Union Customs Code.
2.2. Supply chains are disrupted because of the lockdown measures in multiple
countries. This leads to the build-up of stocks.
Temporarily, holders of Customs authorizations (inward processing, bonded
warehouse, etc.) can request an extension. The locations must be located in Belgium
and can only be used for goods that have not received a final customs destination yet.

3. Measures aiming at Protecting Customs administrations’ Staff

3.1. The Administration took severe measures for protection, based on the social
distancing principle. Field officers have reduced staff numbers to allow less
interaction. Teams work in the same composition as much as possible
3.2. Legislation, central services, litigation and prosecution, and all other non-first line
officers work from home.
3.3. As a general rule, every document or certificate can temporarily be scanned and
delivered to customs. Digital autographs are also accepted. The only exception is
documents that need a physical copy in thirds countries (e.g. proof of origin). See also
point 4.1.

4. Measures aiming at Protecting Society

4.1. As a general rule, Belgian customs delivers every document, authorization or
certificate digitally. The only exception is documents that need a physical copy in
thirds countries (e.g. proof of origin). See also point 3.3.
4.2. Belgian customs, in cooperation with the Federal and local police, guard the
national borders to prevent unnecessary travel, as is forbidden by national decree.
The officers that enforce normally work on internal controls, so this task does not
reduce the capacity of Belgian customs at the EU-borders (airports, ports)
4.3. Belgian customs has a stopping function for the controls on the quality of personal
protective equipment. There is cooperation with the competent authorities.


20.03.2020

Belgian Customs Administration Corona Measures – best practices

Protective equipment

Export
Despite the fact that procurement has increased and additional production has been
encouraged, the current level of Union production and existing stocks of protective
equipment will not be sufficient to meet the demand within the Union. Therefore, the EU has
issued Regulation 2020/402 of 14 March to control the export of protective equipment.
For the Belgian Customs Administration, that means:
o Selection system does not release the items of the annex of the regulation for
export. Goods can only be cleared for export after verifying officers confirm
that the shipment does not contain protective equipment OR if a licence is
available.
o The necessary capacity is provided for the control of the measures
o There is ongoing concertation with major Belgian industrial stakeholders on
the operational side of the regulation
o The competent authority provides certification for traders that are not targeted
by the regulation (e.g. protective gear for automotive industry that has no
medical use).


Import
The Belgian Customs Administration issued temporary measures to allow relief of VAT and
Customs duties for donations of equipment for the protection of personnel.
The relief is based on articles 57 – 58 of regulation 1186/2009.
Disinfectants, sanitizers, etc.
Pharmacists shall be allowed, as an exception and for a limited time, to store and use
ethanol. We do require the beneficiaries of the exceptional rules to hold a register.
As a second measure, to increase the production of base substances for disinfectant sprays
and liquids, the Belgian Customs Administration temporarily broadens the products that can
be used for denaturation for this purpose. This enables pharmacists and hospitals to use
alcohols to produce disinfectants based on stocks of available alcohols that would otherwise
receive another destination (industrial use, destruction, etc.)
Measures for customs officers
The minister of Internal Affairs and Safety has listed the Customs Administration as an
essential service for the vital functions of the Kingdom of Belgium.
This means the Customs Administration will continue its core function of protecting the
interests of the Union and facilitate trade.
With this in mind, the Administration took severe measures for protection, based on the
social distancing principle. Legislation, central services, litigation and prosecution, and all
other non-first line officers work from home. Field officers have reduced staff numbers to
allow less interaction.

                                                                                                 

Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for drivers

Belgium has notified a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers involved in the supply chain relating to essential goods and medicine. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.

Start date: 19.03.2020

End date: 31.03.2020





28.08.2020

Belgium is regularly updating its travel advice list. On 26 August 2020, countries were added to the red list, including Romania. Countries and areas on the red list are subject to a formal travel ban and persons returning to Belgium from these countries must undergo mandatory testing and quarantine.

However, essential movements, including the transport of goods, are exempt from quarantine. See below information for truck drivers coming from red zones.

1) If a driver comes to Belgium as part of a professional journey (transporting goods):

a. If he/she stays in Belgium for less than 48 hours, the Passenger Locator Form does not need to be completed.

b. If he/she stays in Belgium for more than 48 hours, the Passenger Locator Form must be completed.

In both cases, drivers are exempted from compulsory quarantine and testing, even if they come from a red zone. The text messages they receive on arrival to Belgium after filling in the Passenger Locator Form may be ignored.

Therefore, if a driver transits through Belgium (which will almost always be less than 48 hours), he/she can pass freely, regardless of where he/she is coming from.

2) If a driver comes to Belgium after spending his/her free time abroad (e.g. a driver goes to Romania for a week to visit his/her family and comes back to work in Belgium), then the quarantine measures apply.

a. Coming from a red zone, it is mandatory to spend two weeks in quarantine and to test for COVID-19. The test is free of charge.

b. Coming from an orange zone, it is strongly recommended to go into quarantine and get tested. You will be charged for the test.

More information can be found here.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                   

13.07.2020

On 13 July, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice list and included Sweden in the red list.

Countries and areas included in the red list are subject to a formal travel ban and mandatory test and quarantine upon return in Belgium.

Full details can be read here.

Source: Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

                                                                                                   

26.06.2020

As of 15 June, Belgium has lifted border restrictions on all movements within the European Union, the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom, subject to a favourable epidemiological situation in Belgium and the countries concerned. Any person with Belgian nationality, with or without their main residence in Belgium, long-term residents in Belgium and persons with legal residence in Belgium, may always return to Belgium.

The EU Member States and associated Schengen countries still temporarily ban all non-essential travel to and from so-called “third countries” in the EU+ area until 30 June 2020.These measures may be extended.

The temporary travel restrictions do not apply to persons doing essential work or for compelling reasons, such as:

  • Health professionals, health researchers and professionals providing care for the elderly.
  • Frontier workers.
  • Seasonal agricultural workers.
  • Transport staff responsible for the transport of goods and other transport personnel, as necessary.
  • Diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian workers in the performance of their duties.
  • Passengers in transit.
  • Passengers travelling for compelling family reasons.
  • Persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons; travel in accordance with the principle of ‘non-refoulement’.

Phase 4 of the lockdown easing plan will start on 1 July, with no impact on transport operations.

Source: Belgian Federal Government

                                                                                                   

15.04.2020

On 13 April, relaxations on driving and rest time rules in Belgium have been slightly adapted and limited. For drivers transporting essential goods (food supplies, medicines, medical equipment, fuel), the following applies:

·       Increase of the maximum weekly driving limit from 56 hours to 60 hours.

·       Increase of the maximum fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 96 hours.

·       Possibility to postpone a weekly rest period beyond seven-24 hour periods (instead of six).

·       Possibility to take 2 consecutive reduced weekly rest periods, provided that:

a)    the driver takes at least 4 weekly rests in 4 consecutive weeks, of which 2 are regular weekly rests; and

b)    compensation for a reduced weekly rest shall be taken before the end of the fourth week.

For all other drivers, there is the possibility to take the regular weekly rest in the vehicle, provided that it has suitable sleeping facilities and is maintained. Such exemptions apply to national and international goods transport.

Exemptions for both categories apply until 31 May.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                   

09.04.2020

Belgium has agreed to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for all drivers of vehicles active in the transport of goods. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of the EU Regulation 561⁄2006.This temporary relaxation applies from 26/03/2020 and will run until 25/04/2020. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of goods, both domestically and internationally. The following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:

-      derogation to the Article 8(8) of Regulation 561/2006: suspension of the ban on drivers spending their normal weekly rest period in the vehicle cabin.

In addition to this, general derogation and specific derogations for essential transport have been put into place. Belgium has agreed to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for all drivers of vehicles active in the complete supply chain for the transport of essential goods and medication. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of the EU Regulation 561⁄2006. This temporary relaxation applies from 01/04/2020 and will run until 30/04/2020. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of goods domestically and internationally. The following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:

-      derogation to the Article 6(2) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum weekly driving limit of 56 hours to 60 hours;

-      derogation to the Article 6(3) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum fortnightly driving limit of 90 hours to 96 hours;

-      derogation to the Article 8(6) of Regulation 561/2006: postponement of a weekly rest period beyond six-24 hours period;

-      derogation to the Article 8(6): reduction of the regular weekly rest period from 45 hours to 24 hours without any compensation.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                         

23.03.2020

Employers' federations and trade unions in the Belgian road haulage sector and logistics service providers for third parties have made a joint call on all those involved to ensure, to the extent possible, the protection of all those in the haulage and logistics industry who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The call relates to stringently respecting all current measures in place regarding general hygiene, social distancing and the use of equipment at workplaces. The letter is available here.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                         

20.03.2020

For passenger transport, the social distance measure of 1.5m must be respected for all types of collective transport of passengers still operational and allowed, including public bus transport.

In line with the advice regarding unnecessary journeys abroad, all coach services are in a lockdown phase. As schools have been closed, all related transport has been suspended, apart from schools requiring transport to respect their duty of day care for children from families working in key roles, such as health care workers.

The professional training for driving licences or continuous education, and even MOT control have been suspended and appropriate measures are taken to waive the potential validity violations.

Source: FBAA

                                                                                                         

19.03.2020

Restrictions

The Belgian government took additional measures on 17 March 2020 introducing further measures to encourage teleworking and closing all non-essential stores (only pharmacies, food stores and newspaper stores remain open) to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Measures are valid until 5 April 2020. The objective is to limit public gathering. As far as public transport is concern, services function normally, but it is asked to limit journeys.

These measures have no consequences for international freight transport and drivers. However, a number of companies have been forced to close because they are unable to respect the social distancing rules or are short of material to continue the production process.

Relieves

Minister of transport announced a temporary and complete tolerance concerning the enforcement of driving and resting times for drivers involved in the transportation of food, medication and other life essential goods to shops and pharmacies. This measure has been taken on the basis of article 14.2 of the EU Regulation 561 ⁄ 2006 and applies from 14 ⁄ 03 ⁄ 2020 at 00:01 until 31 ⁄  03 ⁄  2020  at 23:59. More detailed information is available here.

Sources: FEBETRA and Official News Agencies