Belgium's New Penal Code Enters into Force, Including New Penalty Levels for Legal Entities

Belgium's Federal Public Service Finance has announced the entry into force of a new Penal Code on 1 September 2026. For legal entities, the new Penal Code includes eight penalty (sentence) levels, with higher levels potentially reduced to a lower level in the presence of mitigating circumstances:

• Level 1: Consists of one of the following penalties:
  • a fine ranging from EUR 200 to EUR 20,000;
  • a community service sentence valued between EUR 200 and EUR 20,000;
  • a probation sentence lasting be…