The Council of Heraldry and Vexillology (French: Conseil dâÂÂhéraldique et de vexillologie) is the Heraldic authority for the French-speaking Community of Belgium. It is the institution that advises the Government of the French-speaking Community on all matters concerning civic, personal, and familial arms and flags. Grants of arms from the Council are published in the Belgian official journal.
This institution was created in 1985 through a decree by the French Community of Belgium. Its first purpose was to give the French Community its arms, to recognise the arms, seals and flags of cities and municipalities (communes) issued from fusions and to publish from its work, an armorial of the French Community of Belgium.
After this armorial was published in 2002, the council was charged in 2010 to give to the government opinions and advice regarding anything concerning arms of physical persons, families and family associations and their registry. This mission was previously the role of the Royal Belgian Genealogical and Heraldic Office.
The Flemish Heraldic Council has a similar purpose in the Flemish Community and the Council of Nobility (est. 1844) grants arms to the nobility in all of Belgium.