The Walloon Government today approved a preliminary draft decree and a draft order aimed at simplifying the organisation of itinerant and fairground trading activities in Wallonia. This decision reflects the region's determination to reduce the administrative burden on self-employed workers.
This reform involves abolishing the requirement to obtain a “trader” or “fairground operator” card in order to carry out these activities: a scheme considered superfluous (given that other controls already exist alongside it) and costly for self-employed workers. Until now, itinerant traders and fairground operators had to obtain these authorisations from approved Business Counters, at a significant cost (€150 for employer authorisations, €100 for staff).
Soon, self-employed workers will be able to carry out these activities simply by being registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. Other control authorities will still be able to check their compliance quickly and efficiently. This administrative simplification will allow the self-employed workers concerned to make savings, while also freeing up resources within the Walloon administration, which can focus on priority tasks such as combating social fraud.
It should also be recalled that the Code of Economic Law already contains several provisions protecting consumers, particularly in the context of itinerant trading activities.
A positive impact for self-employed workers
The text, which follows similar reforms adopted a few months ago in Flanders and Brussels, offers several advantages:
- A substantial administrative simplification for itinerant and fairground businesses, with reduced costs and formalities;
- Continued controls via the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, without any compromise on service quality;
- A reallocation of administrative staff to priority tasks;
- A modernisation of the legislative framework, in line with the objectives of the Regional Policy Statement.
These measures will not affect municipalities' ability to manage their markets and fairs through existing municipal regulations.
Minister for the Economy Pierre-Yves Jeholet stressed that “this measure is part of a broader drive to simplify and streamline public action. It eases the burden on self-employed workers while strengthening the administration's ability to focus on priority tasks, without undermining consumer protection.”