Temporary points of sale – such as festivals – will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products from January 1, 2025. Supermarkets larger than 400 m² will be subject to the same ban from July 1, 2025.
Pension, salary indexation, registration fees, lease, vaccine…: here is everything that will change from January 1
Stores will no longer be allowed to visibly display cigarettes, vapes, etc. The products must be located in a separate room or stored in a drawer or cupboard so as to be hidden from the naked eye. Merchants will be required to request proof of identity from any person wishing to purchase tobacco products and appearing to be under 25 years old.
No more textiles in white bags
In the Brussels region, it will no longer be possible to throw clothes, household linen, shoes, leather goods and soft toys into white bags. The textiles must be clean and dry and must be placed at collection points or in the Brussels Propreté Recyparks.
New formulas at SNCB
Go Pass, Senior Ticket, Multi, subscriptions… SNCB is reviewing a whole series of travel options. Go Pass history disappears. It is replaced by a Youth Multi at 62 euros for those under 26 and a Standard Multi at 102 euros for others.
The youth package tickets at 7.50 euros per journey and the senior ticket at 8.30 euros round trip outside rush hour will disappear in favor of reductions per trip
End of 600 hours for students
At the end of 2022, it was decided that students could work 600 hours in 2023 and 2024 compared to 475 previously. It was planned to make this ceiling permanent from 2025, but this was not made permanent by the outgoing government. In 2025, students will therefore only be able to work 475 hours per year with their preferential student status.
The MR has tabled a bill to modify this measure and make the 600 hours permanent.
Students will no longer be able to work as much from 2025!
Registration rights
From January 1, 2025, registration fees in Wallonia will drop from 12.5% to 3% for the purchase of your own, unique home, subject to strict conditions of residence and duration. This new regime simplifies the rules by removing previous advantages (deduction, housing voucher, etc.) to facilitate access to property, particularly for young people. Buyers must reside in the property for three years, under penalty of reimbursing the difference with the traditional rate.
In Flanders, registration fees for the purchase of a single, own home will be reduced from 3% to 2%.
Alcohol
The Advertising Council has decided to further regulate alcohol advertising from January 1, 2025. It will be banned on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, and will no longer be able to use well-known characters (actors, singers, influencers). People in these advertisements must appear to be at least 25 years old. In addition, campaigns can no longer be broadcast before 9 p.m. on television.
Smoke
Smoke detectors must be installed in all homes in the Brussels Region.
New on January 1st – Smoke detectors compulsory in all homes in the Brussels Region
Health
Pregnant women will be able to benefit, from January 1, from reimbursement of the maternal vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
From the age of 30, a test to be carried out every five years to detect cervical cancer.
Sport
Advertising for games of chance will be banned in stadiums. Gaming company logos can still be displayed in small format on the back of players’ jerseys, but without a slogan. Clubs that break the rules face fines of up to 500,000 euros.
