New laws and regulations for entrepreneurs from July 1, 2026

From July 1, 2026, entrepreneurs will once again face new laws, regulations, and upcoming legislative changes. Not every change affects every business. Nevertheless, it is wise to check in a timely manner whether your contracts, general terms and conditions, marketing processes, personnel policy, or compliance documentation need to be adjusted.

Entrepreneurs in transport, e-commerce, childcare, the temporary employment sector, online services, software, import, and marketing, in particular, need to be alert. Some rules apply immediately from July 1, 2026. Other changes will follow later in 2026 or from 2027.

In this blog, we list the most important new laws for entrepreneurs effective July 1, 2026. In doing so, we focus primarily on the legal consequences for entrepreneurs.

New laws for entrepreneurs as of July 1, 2026: why check now?

New legislation often appears to be purely administrative. In practice, however, a small change can have major consequences. A marketing process that worked well for years may suddenly no longer be permitted. A contract with a customer or supplier may become outdated. Costs can also rise due to new levies, customs regulations, or packaging requirements.

Therefore, it is wise not to wait until the effective date to respond. Check in good time which regulations affect your business. In doing so, look not only at the law itself, but also at your contracts, general terms and conditions, internal procedures, and communication with customers.

Are you unsure whether your documents still comply with the new rules? Then have your contracts or general terms and conditions checked.

Telemarketing: no longer call customers without permission

An important change affects entrepreneurs who sell by telephone or follow up on leads. As of July 1, 2026, you may no longer call customers or potential customers for telemarketing without their consent. An exception applies to charities, charity lotteries, and publishers.

For entrepreneurs, this means that marketing and sales processes must be reassessed. It is not enough for a phone number to be stored somewhere in your system. You must be able to demonstrate that consent has been given, unless a legal exception applies.

Therefore, review your CRM, lead forms, call scripts, privacy statement, and consent registration. Also document internally who is authorized to make calls, on what basis, and how consent is stored. This impacts not only marketing but also privacy and evidentiary position.

If in doubt, also check our page on privacy and data protection.

Transport: tachograph type 2 and truck toll

For entrepreneurs in transport, logistics, construction, installation, and international services, the transport regulations may be relevant. Vehicles weighing 2,500 kg or more that operate internationally must have a Type 2 smart tachograph. This obligation already applied to vehicles over 3,500 kg.

In addition, a truck toll will be introduced for trucks weighing 3,500 kg or more on certain roads. The toll applies to almost all motorways and a number of N-roads. The amount depends partly on weight and emissions.

These rules may have implications for quotations, transport contracts, distribution agreements, and price agreements with customers. Entrepreneurs would be well advised to check whether rising costs can be passed on. Is there nothing about this in your contract? Then a dispute may arise.

In the case of structural transport or delivery agreements, it is advisable to assess your contractual position

Childcare: more room for staff in training

Staffing is changing for childcare organizations. At day care centers and out-of-school care facilities, half of the staff may consist of trainees. According to the Chamber of Commerce, this makes a temporary measure permanent.

This provides flexibility in the event of staff shortages. At the same time, this change requires proper documentation. A mentoring plan remains mandatory. It must state how employees in training are supervised and which tasks they are permitted to perform independently.

For childcare entrepreneurs, it is advisable to check employment contracts, job descriptions, training agreements, and internal protocols. It must also be clear who is responsible for guidance, supervision, and quality.

See also our page on employment law.

Home-based childcare faces stricter quality requirements

The rules for home-based childcare are also changing. Stricter quality requirements are being introduced for childminders and childminder agencies. New childminders without a pedagogical diploma must complete a pedagogy module. In the future, childminders will be allowed to register with a maximum of two childminder agencies.

In addition, coaching, further training, and pedagogical guidance are becoming more important. Childminders are required, among other things, to work with a pedagogical work plan. Rules regarding the care of one's own children and childcare allowance are also changing.

For childminder agencies, this means that contracts, intake procedures, support agreements, and annual meeting reports must be reviewed. Clearly establish who is responsible for what. This prevents disputes with childminders, parents, and supervisors.

Import: new costs for small shipments

Importers of products from countries outside the EU must take into account higher costs for small shipments. According to the Chamber of Commerce, the exemption from import duties for shipments up to 150 euros is being abolished. In addition, a levy per declaration line will be introduced, and likely a European handling fee later in 2026.

For webshops and importers, this can have a direct impact on margins, sales prices, and general terms and conditions. Therefore, check whether your prices, delivery terms, and return policy are still correct.

Pay particular attention to agreements regarding import duties, customs costs, shipping costs, and unexpected price increases. In B2B contracts, a price adjustment clause can be important. In addition, information obligations apply to consumer sales.

For webshops, our page on e-commerce, online stores, and privacy be relevant.

Temporary employment agencies must report workplace accidents

For temporary employment agencies, a new reporting obligation is expected to apply to workplace accidents involving temporary workers. According to the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), the temporary employment agency must report the accident to the Labour Inspectorate and to the company where the temporary worker is employed. The client company must also report the accident.

This change emphasizes that the lender and borrower bear joint responsibility for safety. This requires clear agreements in hiring agreements, staffing terms and conditions, and safety protocols.

Therefore, verify who is responsible for instruction, supervision, personal protective equipment, incident registration, and reporting of accidents. Also document how the parties inform each other after an incident.

Do you need general terms and conditions as a staffing agency or hirer? Then view our page on general terms and conditions for staffing agencies and secondment.

Later in 2026: European Packaging Act PPWR

As of August 12, 2026, European regulations for packaging will change. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, abbreviated PPWR, imposes stricter requirements on packaging. The goal is less packaging waste, more reuse, and ultimately recyclable packaging.

These rules can affect almost every business that packages, has packaged, sells, imports, or ships products. Think of webshops, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.

Review your supplier contracts, product packaging, sustainability claims, and agreements regarding packaging costs in a timely manner. It is also advisable to establish who is responsible for compliance with packaging regulations within the supply chain.

Later in 2026: digital evidence and cyber resilience

Digital businesses are also facing new rules. As of August 18, 2026, certain online service providers must be able to provide digital evidence to European authorities. Examples include cloud storage, online marketplaces, and domain name registries.

In addition, the Cyber ​​Resilience Act introduces new obligations for digital products, software, and smart devices. As of September 11, 2026, reporting obligations apply to serious security issues and abuse. Broader security requirements will follow as of December 11, 2027.

For software companies, platforms, SaaS providers, importers, and manufacturers, this is an important compliance topic. Review contracts, security procedures, incident response, data processing agreements, and liability clauses.

See also our pages on cybersecurity and cybercrime and data processing agreements.

Sustainability claims must be better substantiated

As of September 27, 2026, entrepreneurs must be able to better substantiate sustainability claims. This change is intended to protect consumers against misleading sustainability claims and greenwashing.

This affects entrepreneurs who promote products or services as sustainable, green, environmentally friendly, climate-neutral, circular, or responsible. Such claims must be concrete, verifiable, and substantiated.

Therefore, check marketing texts, websites, packaging, quotations, social media campaigns, and product information. Vague claims pose a risk. Ensure that you can explain what the claim is based on and what data is available to support it.

This topic also touches upon advertising and intellectual property. Therefore, you may want to consult our page on advertising and promotion.

From 2027: change to the youngtimer scheme

The youngtimer scheme is expected to change starting in 2027. Currently, the low tax addition applies to company cars that are between 16 and 25 years old. According to the Chamber of Commerce, from 2027 onwards, only cars 25 years or older will still fall under the low tax addition scheme.

For entrepreneurs with a company youngtimer, this can have financial consequences. Therefore, check your fleet, lease agreements, car policy, and agreements with employees or director-major shareholders in a timely manner.

Do you have a car policy or employment condition that refers to tax benefits? If so, have it reviewed before the change takes effect.

Which documents do you need to check?

The new rules not only affect your daily working methods. They can also render existing documents outdated.

In any case, check your general terms and conditions, privacy statement, data processing agreements, sales processes, secondment agreements, distribution contracts, supplier contracts, transport agreements, car policies, and marketing texts.

Employment contracts, employee handbooks, and internal protocols may also require attention. This applies particularly to childcare facilities, childminders, temporary employment agencies, transport companies, and digital service providers.

With our ContractCheck™, you can have existing documents checked for risks, currency, and practical usability.

What should you do now as an entrepreneur?

Start with a brief impact analysis. Which changes affect your industry, customers, staff, vehicles, marketing, or digital products?

Next, distinguish between direct action and preparation. Telemarketing, transport, childcare, childminder care, import, and temporary staffing relationships may require action before July 1, 2026. For PPWR, eEvidence, the Cyber ​​Resilience Act, and sustainability claims, preparation is required later in 2026.

Next, determine who is internally responsible. Consider sales, HR, compliance, operations, finance, and the executive board. Legal changes often fail not due to a lack of knowledge, but due to a lack of execution.

Need help with new laws for entrepreneurs?

Do you want to know which new laws affect your business as of July 1, 2026? MKB Juristen helps entrepreneurs with practical legal review and amendment of documents.

We review contracts, general terms and conditions, privacy documents, marketing processes, employment law documents, and compliance agreements. We also assess whether your company is at risk due to new legislation.

See also the KVK's current overview of new laws and regulations for entrepreneurs as of July 1, 2026.