The European Accessibility Act and Your Website

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU law that requires certain products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. Its requirements began applying on 28 June 2025. It covers a range of digital services, including e-commerce, banking services, e-books and passenger transport websites and apps.

Who may be affected

Businesses that sell covered products or services to consumers in EU countries may fall within the scope, even if they are based elsewhere. Microenterprises that provide services are generally exempt, but exemptions have conditions. If you serve European customers, check the details with a qualified adviser.

What accessibility means in practice

The Act points to established technical standards, and in practice most organisations use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 or 2.2 at level AA as a working target. That includes:

• Text alternatives for images and captions for video.
• Sufficient colour contrast and resizable text.
• Full keyboard operation with visible focus indicators.
• Clear form labels, error messages and consistent navigation.
• Content that works with screen readers and other assistive technology.

How to prepare

1. Run an accessibility audit with automated tools and manual testing.
2. Fix critical barriers first, especially in key journeys such as checkout and contact forms.
3. Publish an accessibility statement explaining your commitment and how to report problems.
4. Include accessibility in every new design and development project.
5. Train your team and retest regularly.

Accessibility also widens your audience and improves usability for everyone, so it is worth doing whether or not a law requires it.