What is the European Accessibility Act and does it apply to my business?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires e-commerce websites to be accessible to people with disabilities by June 28, 2025. Non-compliance risks significant fines and market access restrictions.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA is EU legislation (Directive 2019/882) that sets accessibility requirements for products and services, including e-commerce. It aims to harmonize accessibility rules across EU member states and ensure people with disabilities can fully participate in digital commerce.

The directive covers websites, mobile apps, and all digital touchpoints involved in selling products or services online.

Does the EAA apply to my business?

The EAA applies if you:

• Sell products or services to consumers in the EU
• Have more than 10 employees, OR
• Have annual turnover exceeding €2 million

Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees AND under €2M turnover) are exempt from the e-commerce provisions, though accessibility is still recommended.

Note: If you’re based outside the EU but sell to EU customers, the EAA still applies to you.

Key deadline

The compliance deadline is June 28, 2025. After this date, EU member states will begin enforcement, with penalties varying by country.

What does compliance require?

E-commerce websites must meet accessibility requirements based on the EN 301 549 standard, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Key requirements include:

Perceivable

• Text alternatives for images (alt text)
• Captions and transcripts for video/audio content
• Sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 for normal text)
• Content readable and functional when zoomed to 200%

Operable

• Full keyboard accessibility—every function must work without a mouse
• No keyboard traps
• Skip navigation links
• Sufficient time to complete tasks
• No content that flashes more than 3 times per second

Understandable

• Clear, consistent navigation
• Form labels and error messages that explain what’s needed
• Predictable page behavior

Robust

• Valid, semantic HTML
• Compatible with assistive technologies (screen readers, etc.)
• ARIA labels where needed for custom components

Penalties for non-compliance

Each EU member state sets its own penalties. Examples include:

• Germany: Fines up to €100,000
• France: Fines up to €50,000 per violation
• Netherlands: Administrative fines and potential market restrictions

Beyond fines, non-compliant businesses may face reputational damage and loss of customers who can’t use their websites.

Steps to achieve compliance

1. Audit your current site – Use automated tools (WAVE, axe) plus manual testing
2. Prioritize critical paths – Focus on checkout, product pages, and navigation first
3. Fix high-impact issues – Alt text, keyboard navigation, color contrast
4. Test with real users – Include people who use assistive technologies
5. Document your efforts – Maintain an accessibility statement
6. Establish ongoing processes – Accessibility must be maintained, not just achieved once

The business case for accessibility

Beyond compliance, accessibility improvements typically increase conversions for all users. Clear navigation, readable text, and simple forms benefit everyone. Studies show accessibility improvements can increase overall conversion by 10-20%.

Additionally, 15-20% of the population has some form of disability. Making your store accessible opens your market to these customers.

Need help with EAA compliance?

Our UX audits include accessibility evaluation as standard. We identify WCAG issues and provide prioritized recommendations for achieving compliance.