EU-wide guide

Does the European Accessibility Act apply to you?

In short: The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) has applied since 28 June 2025 to in-scope products and services — e-commerce, banking, telecoms, e-books, transport ticketing — sold to EU consumers, including by non-EU companies. Websites are measured against EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA, penalties are set nationally, and micro-enterprises are largely exempt.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive (EU) 2019/882) is an EU-wide directive that sets common accessibility requirements for a defined set of products and services. It has applied since 28 June 2025, and each of the 27 member states transposes it into national law with its own enforcement body and penalty range — see our dedicated guides for Germany (BFSG) and Italy (Legge Stanca / D.Lgs. 82/2022).

The law

The EAA sets the accessibility bar for in-scope products and services (e-commerce, banking, e-books, transport ticketing, telecoms, and more) at EN 301 549, which for web content maps to WCAG 2.1 level AA. Because it's a directive rather than a regulation, the exact wording, enforcement mechanism, and fine schedule vary by country — the underlying accessibility standard does not.

Penalties vary by country

Each member state sets its own penalty regime under its national transposition law. As examples: Germany's BFSG allows fines up to €100,000; Italy's D.Lgs. 82/2022 sets fines from €5,000 to €40,000 (up to 5% of turnover for repeat offenses). Check the guide for the specific country your business operates in or sells into.

Who's exempt

The EAA exempts micro-enterprises — fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million annual turnover or balance sheet total — from most of its product and service obligations. This exemption is consistent across member states, though some national laws add further nuances.

Who's in scope

Businesses offering e-commerce, banking and payment services, transport-ticketing, telecoms, e-books, or certain consumer electronics and self-service terminals to EU consumers. Location doesn't matter — a company based outside the EU that sells to EU consumers is in scope just like an EU-based one.

What you need to do

Start with a WCAG 2.1 AA audit — automated scan for code-level issues (alt text, labels, structure, ARIA), manual review for what code can't catch (color contrast, keyboard navigation, screen-reader behavior) — then fix what's found and monitor for regressions as your site changes.

How to check where you stand

Run a free automated scan against your site in about 20 seconds. It won't replace a manual audit, but it gives you an honest, code-level starting point before you decide whether — and where — you need deeper legal or accessibility-expert review.

Scan your site free →

This page is general information, not legal advice. The EAA's exact scope and penalties depend on the member state and your specific business — consult a lawyer for a binding assessment.

FAQ
Is the EAA one law across the whole EU?
It's a directive — the EU sets the framework and each of the 27 member states transposes it into national law with its own enforcement authority and penalty schedule. The underlying technical standard (EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA) stays consistent.
Does the EAA apply to businesses outside the EU?
Yes, if they sell products or services to consumers in the EU. Where the company is headquartered doesn't determine scope.
What's the deadline?
The EAA has applied since 28 June 2025 for most in-scope products and services; some existing services have longer transition periods under national laws.
Is an accessibility overlay enough to comply?
No — see our dedicated comparison of overlay widgets vs. code-level fixes for why regulators and courts have not treated overlays as sufficient.

Germany (BFSG) guide · Italy (Legge Stanca) guide · Scan vs. audit · Overlay vs. code fix · Methodology