European Accessibility Act: what the EU directive requires

In short

• The European Accessibility Act is EU Directive 2019/882. Its rules have applied since 28 June 2025.
• It sets common accessibility requirements for certain products and services, including online shops.
• Every EU country has implemented it in its own law, in Germany the BFSG.
• It also applies to businesses outside the EU when they sell to consumers in the EU.
• Microenterprises that provide services are exempt.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The directive was adopted in 2019. It is meant to make sure that people with disabilities and older people can use important products and services, and that businesses find the same rules in every EU country instead of 27 different ones.

A directive does not apply directly. Each country had to write it into its own law and apply its rules from 28 June 2025. What matters for your business is therefore the law of the country where your customers are.

Which products and services?

The products include computers, smartphones, routers, e-readers and self-service terminals such as cash machines and ticket machines.

The services are:

• e-commerce: websites and apps where consumers enter into contracts
• consumer banking services
• electronic communications
• parts of passenger transport, such as websites, apps, tickets and travel information
• e-books
• access to audiovisual media services

Who does it apply to?

To manufacturers, importers and distributors of the products, and to businesses providing the services to consumers. It is not where your business is based that counts, but where your customers are. An online shop from Switzerland, the UK or Norway that sells to consumers in Germany falls under the German law.

Microenterprises that provide services are exempt: fewer than ten employees and no more than €2 million in annual turnover or balance sheet total.

Which standard applies to websites?

The directive describes the requirements in general terms: services must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. The European standard EN 301 549 describes what that means in detail. For websites, it refers to WCAG 2.1 at level AA, the widely used Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. A version of the standard adapted to the European Accessibility Act is being prepared.

Luentis checks against the newer WCAG 2.2 at level AA and maps each criterion to the matching clause of EN 301 549.

How have the countries implemented it?

Each country has its own law and its own authorities that enforce it. Some examples:

• Germany: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), enforced by a joint market surveillance office of the German states in Magdeburg
• Austria: Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (BaFG)

The requirements are the same everywhere, because they come from the directive. The differences lie mainly in the authorities, the procedures and the level of penalties.

What you can do now

1. Work out in which countries you sell to consumers, and whether your service is one of those listed.
2. Check your website against WCAG 2.2 AA. Our scan shows what can be measured automatically. A person checks the rest.
3. Fix the errors and document what you have done.
4. Explain on your website how your service meets the requirements.

Sources

• Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services
• Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), in German
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2