New law requires merchants to report suspicious purchases

Hardware stores and pharmacies are some of the businesses affected by a new anti-terror legislation which requires merchants to report large purchases of hazardous materials to the federal police, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

The FPS Economy is working on a brochure with guidelines for all dealers of dangerous chemicals or other products that can potentially be used by criminals or terrorists to make explosives. Hardware- and paint stores and pharmacies across Belgium were earlier this summer the first to receive the new European directives on how to respond when a client orders large quantities of dangerous substances such as acetone, sulfuric acid or fertilizer, announced the cabinet of federal economy minister Kris Peeters.

"At the request of the EU, we have changed the legislation for the sale of certain chemicals," reads the announcement. The chemicals included in the list are potential bomb-making material, such as those used in the Brussels attacks. “The new law requires the merchants of these chemicals to notify us for each suspicious transaction, even if the sale falls through.”