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Consumer protection in Belgium: magazines and media to follow
In Belgium, consumer information comes from the Test-Achats and Test Aankoop magazines, the practical sections of Le Soir, HLN and Sudinfo, and programmes on RTBF and VRT, in French and Dutch, often reserved for members.
Test-Achats, a pioneer since 1957
The consumer association Test-Achats, founded in 1957, publishes a magazine of the same name in French and Test Aankoop in Dutch. A member of the Euroconsumers group alongside Italian, Spanish and Portuguese organisations, it funds its tests through subscriber fees.
Budget & Droits and Test Santé: the spin-off titles
Besides its monthly magazine, Test-Achats publishes Budget & Droits on financial and legal matters, and Test Santé on medicines and food. The Dutch versions are called Budget & Recht and Test Gezondheid, with largely identical content in both languages.
Why two language editions?
As with all Belgian press, consumer news is read in French in Brussels and Wallonia and in Dutch in Flanders. The Flemish dailies Het Laatste Nieuws and Het Nieuwsblad run popular practical sections, often based on the same studies as their French-speaking counterparts.
Consumer pages in the daily papers
Le Soir, La Libre and the Sudinfo editions regularly cover energy bills, bank charges and disputes with airlines. French-speaking readers will find these titles in the Belgian national press, although access is often limited to subscribers.
Energy, rents, banks: the dominant topics
Since gas and electricity prices soared in 2022, the Belgian press has published many supplier comparisons and explained the social tariff. Rents, indexation and property costs are also frequent subjects; see the Belgian property press for more.
Programmes dedicated to consumers
RTBF long broadcast On n'est pas des pigeons, a daily show about scams and good deals, while VRT and VTM offer reports on buyers' rights. These segments often remain available on Auvio and VRT MAX for viewers who missed the original broadcast.
FPS Economy and public sources
The Federal Public Service Economy publishes the rules on guarantees, sales periods and distance selling, and runs a contact point for reporting fraud and scams. Its official information forms the basis for articles by specialist Belgian journalists.
Product recalls: where to check them?
The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, known as AFSCA, publishes recalls of food withdrawn from sale. Belga picks up these notices, then dailies and regional radio spread them; the agency's own list remains the reference whenever in doubt.
Mediation and cross-border disputes
The Consumer Mediation Service, based in Brussels, directs complaints to the relevant sector ombudsmen. For a purchase made in another EU country, the European Consumer Centre helps resolve disputes with a foreign seller free of charge.
Associations, trade unions and health insurers
Other bodies publish useful information: health insurance funds on reimbursements for care, trade unions on employment contracts, and associations such as CRIOC, a former research centre whose studies are still quoted in press archives.
Shopping from abroad: cross-border workers and expats
Cross-border workers often read the consumer press of two countries to compare fuel prices, bank fees and insurance. Belgians living in France add the French press online, whose guarantee rules sometimes differ on points of detail.
Members-only content and copycat sites
Full Test-Achats test results are reserved for members, with only a few summaries made public. Be wary of sites that reproduce their rankings without permission or display unverifiable customer reviews; always check the test date and the exact model assessed.
Learning about Belgian consumer rights from a distance
- Choose the French or Dutch version of Test-Achats according to your reading language, then sign up for its free newsletter.
- Check the AFSCA recall list before reporting or throwing away a suspect food product.
- Read the official rules on legal guarantees and withdrawal rights on the FPS Economy website.
- Watch RTBF or VRT consumer reports on catch-up for concrete examples.
- Compare at least two energy supplier comparisons before switching contracts.
- Note the date of each test, as prices and models change quickly.
Consumer media: access and subscriptions
| Media type | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Test-Achats, Test Aankoop | Paid membership, indicative price varies | Frequent trial offers; plan cancellation in advance |
| Belgian dailies | Partly free | Detailed comparisons often for subscribers only |
| FPS Economy, AFSCA | Free | Official sources in French, Dutch and German |
| RTBF Auvio, VRT MAX | Free with account | Availability varies outside Belgium |
| European Consumer Centre | Free | Help with disputes involving a seller in another European country |
Essentials for Belgian consumers
- Main organisation: Test-Achats, Test Aankoop in Dutch
- Federal authority: FPS Economy, FOD Economie in Dutch
- Food safety: AFSCA, or FAVV in Dutch
- Mediation: Consumer Mediation Service, in Brussels
- Official languages: French, Dutch and German
- Currency: the euro; prices for private customers always shown including VAT
Frequent mistakes when reading consumer news
- Confusing a fake comparison site that earns commissions with the independent comparison tool of an association or a regulator.
- Applying in Belgium a guarantee or withdrawal rule read in a French article without checking Belgian legislation.
- Sharing an old product recall alert when the batch concerned left the shelves long ago.
- Trusting an advert that misuses the logo of Test-Achats or a well-known outlet to promote a miracle product.
- Treating anonymous customer reviews on a commercial platform as the equivalent of a laboratory test.
Questions about consumer information in Belgium
Do you need to be a member to read Test-Achats?
Some news and advice are public, but full test results and detailed comparisons are reserved for members. The association regularly offers discounted trial plans; read the renewal conditions carefully before signing up.
Where can I check a food product recall in Belgium?
The AFSCA website publishes the list of recalled products with the name, batch and expiry date concerned. Supermarkets also display these recalls in store, and the regional press relays them when they involve best-selling products.
Which outlet tracks energy prices in Belgium?
L'Echo and De Tijd analyse the markets, while Test-Achats, Le Soir and HLN publish practical comparisons. The federal regulator CREG and the regional regulators also provide simulators, more neutral than commercial sites paid by suppliers.
How do I complain about a Belgian seller from abroad?
First contact the seller in writing, then the Consumer Mediation Service. If you live in another European Union country, the European Consumer Centre in your country can intervene free of charge with its Belgian counterpart.