Tighter child car seat laws from May 2006

21 December 2005

BRUSSELS — Children smaller than 1.35m will need to be placed in a child seat either in the front or back of the car starting from 1 May 2006.

Transport Minister Renaat Landuyt said the measure is the result of a European guideline handed down in 2003.

However, the obligatory use of child safety seats will pass on high costs to large families, newspaper ‘Het Belang van Limburg’ reported on Wednesday.

The child seats will need to have the orange ECE label with the number R 44-03 on it. Older models no longer satisfy safety standards.

The product approval number must also start with the figures 03 otherwise it is illegal to sell the seat.

A car seat costs between EUR 60 and EUR 350. The seats also need to be regularly replaced as the children grow.

Minister Landuyt said it is not the intention to drive up the costs faced by families with multiple children.

Instead, he said a debate should be waged about the reduction of VAT taxes on products that are necessary for safety.

Subject: Belgian news