Thanks to a collaboration agreement between the government and DNS Belgium, more effective action can be taken against websites that do not comply with legislation on tobacco products, cosmetics and alcohol.
The Notice & Action procedure that DNS Belgium has operated with the FPS Economy since 2018 is gradually being extended to other government departments. At the end of 2025, we concluded such an agreement with the Gaming Commission, for example. Now, a similar collaboration with the FPS Health is now being put in place.
The procedure is being handled by the inspection service of the FPS Health. Among other things, this service monitors online trade in tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), cosmetics, alcohol, animal by-products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This agreement allows the inspection service to report violations on Belgian websites to DNS Belgium, the technical operator of all .be domain names.
‘DNS Belgium does not determine which websites may or may not be online. However, we do actively contribute to a safe internet for all consumers. This agreement enables the government to identify illegal websites in the .be zone more quickly and prevents unregulated products from being sold in the .be zone,’ says Peter Vergote, Legal Advisor at DNS Belgium.
When do we take action?
When the inspection service identifies a .be website whose content violates Belgian law, they report it to DNS Belgium. Examples include websites that sell tobacco (which is completely prohibited), e-cigarettes that do not comply with the law, or alcohol (without verifying that the consumer is of legal age). This also includes cosmetics sold online that do not comply with labelling rules or have not undergone the necessary safety tests.
As soon as DNS Belgium receives an official report, we take the following steps:
We disable the domain name's name servers within one working day.
We ensure that visitors to the website are redirected to a warning page.
The domain name holder is given the opportunity to comply with the rules. If he or she fails to do so, the domain name will be revoked.
This approach ensures that illegal websites quickly become inaccessible, while the owner still has the opportunity to rectify the situation.
This agreement enables the government to identify fraudulent websites in the .be zone more quickly and prevents unregulated products from being sold in the .be zone.
Why do we do this?
Websites that violate legislation – for example, regarding tobacco, alcohol, animal by-products or GMOs – can pose risks to consumers and society. These risks include deception, unsafe products or information that does not comply with Belgian and European rules.
By working with the inspection service of the FPS Public Health and following up reports of suspicious websites, DNS Belgium contributes to a safer and more reliable internet.
In this way, we are gradually strengthening the protection of internet users and trust in the digital ecosystem.
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