Why is a NACE code necessary and what is new?
Since 2008, NACE codes have been used to:
- Simplify the registration of a company's activities with various administrations and make it easier to allocate premiums or subsidies
- Create statistics on economic activities
- Help customers and suppliers understand the activities your company engages in
These codes will be replaced by new codes for all companies at the beginning of 2025.
For the following business activities, the conversion to the new codes will take place in two steps:
- Ambulatory trade and e-commerce
- Fairground activities and amusement parks
- Activities of catering establishments with limited service
For these activities, 7-digit NACE codes were previously used. These were converted to a new version with 7 digits at the beginning of this year. In the next step, the 7 digits must be converted to a 5-digit code.
The codes for “Fairground activities and amusement parks,” as well as for “Activities of catering establishments with limited service,” will be automatically converted to the correct NACE code at the beginning of 2026. You do not need to do anything for this.
I am active in ambulatory trade and e-commerce: what changes for me?
The NACE codes 2025 will no longer consider how you sell a product (in stores, by phone, online, at markets, etc.) but will now focus solely on the nature of the products you sell (e.g. sale of textiles, foodstuffs, etc.)
For which NACE codes does something change?
This applies to companies with one or more of the following 7-digit codes in the establishment unit:
- 47.11021 - Market and street trade in foodstuffs
- 47.71611 - Market and street trade in textiles, clothing, and footwear
- 47.78911 - Other market and street trade
- 47.12001 - Retail trade in various products by mail order; goods are sent to the buyer after they have made their choice based on advertisements, whether or not specialized catalogs, etc.
- 47.12002 - Retail trade in various products via the internet (e-commerce)
- 47.12003 - Sale by auction (auction houses for retail) via the internet
- 47.12011 - Retail trade in various products in a manner not covered in the previous classes: door-to-door sales, vending machines, demonstration sales, ambulatory trade, etc.
What and by when do you need to do something?
If your company has one or more of those 7-digit codes, you must adjust them yourself to 5-digit codes that correspond to the type of products you sell before 31.12.2025.
Example
You sell clothes at the market. Previously, the code 47.71611 was used to indicate where you sell.
Since the place of sale is no longer important and the emphasis is on what you sell, you need to convert this code to 47.716 (Retail sale of clothing, underwear and clothing accessories for men, women, children and baby, general selection).
What happens if I do nothing?
If you do not adjust the code yourself before 31.12.2025, the government will automatically change the codes (7 digits) for ambulatory trade and e-commerce to a 5-digit code that it will choose itself.
Example
A company that sells roasted chicken at the market and has the code “47.11021 - Market and street trade in foodstuffs” will automatically receive the code “47.210 - Retail sale of fruit and vegetables” The risk here is high that the government's choice does not match the actual activity carried out by your company.
It is therefore important that you check and adjust the activity codes yourself.
How can I make those adjustments myself?
You can ensure a correct conversion from 7 to 5 digits in two ways:
- You can do it yourself via My Enterprise. You can find out how to do this in this manual
- You can also always go to your Securex company desk for these adjustments. They can also check if there are any other improvements that you cannot do yourself via My Enterprise to keep all the data up to date.
How does Securex help you?
For all these adjustments, you can contact your Securex company desk either on-site or online at starter@securex.be.
