Legal

European Accessibility Act 2025: Compliance Guide for Business

Q: Does the EAA apply to B2B?

The directive is primarily aimed at consumer products (B2C). However, B2B services used by end-users (e.g., hardware terminals) may still be affected.

Q: What is a micro-enterprise?

Companies with fewer than 10 employees AND an annual turnover of less than 2 million EUR are exempt from certain service requirements.

Alexander Xrayd

Accessibility Expert

Read time

12 min

Published

Nov 25, 2025

Updated

Nov 28, 2025

On June 28, 2025, the digital landscape in Europe will shift. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into full force. For businesses operating in the EU, digital accessibility is moving from a 'nice-to-have' feature to a strict legal requirement with significant consequences for non-compliance.

Unlike previous regulations that focused on the public sector, the EAA targets the private sector. E-commerce stores, banking services, streaming platforms, and ticketing services must now meet the same rigorous standards. This guide details exactly what you need to do to ensure your site remains legal in 2025.

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The EAA is an EU directive designed to create a common accessibility standard across all member states. Its goal is to remove barriers for people with disabilities and ensure the free movement of accessible products and services.

Technically, products and services must comply with the standard EN 301 549, which largely mirrors WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This harmonized standard ensures that a website compliant in Sweden is also compliant in Germany or France.

Who is affected by the law?

The law applies to economic operators (manufacturers, importers, distributors) providing the following to consumers:

•E-commerce: The entire shopping flow, from product discovery to checkout.

•Banking: Online banking, mobile apps, and authentication methods.

•E-books: Both the content and the specialized software used to read them.

•Audiovisual Media: Services like Netflix or Spotify (requirements for subtitles and audio description).

•Transport: Online ticketing for air, bus, rail, and water transport.

The Exception: Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and turnover < 2 million EUR) are exempt from the service requirements, but must still ensure their products comply.

Core Requirements for Compliance

For websites and mobile apps, compliance generally means adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA. Common failures that will become illegal include:

1.Poor Contrast: Text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against the background.

2.No Keyboard Navigation: Users must be able to complete a purchase using only the Tab key.

3.Missing Alt Text: Images must have descriptive text for screen readers.

4.Inaccessible Forms: Input fields must have programmatic labels, not just placeholders.

Ignoring these is no longer a UX issue—it is a legal liability.

Fines and Penalties

Each EU member state is responsible for enforcement. Authorities have the power to:

•Impose Fines: Penalties are designed to be 'effective, proportionate, and dissuasive'.

•Market Withdrawal: Authorities can order the removal of your service or product from the market until it is compliant. For an online business, this effectively means shutting down revenue.

•Reputational Damage: Being publicly cited for excluding users with disabilities can cause lasting brand damage.

Don't wait for a lawsuit. Run an automated audit with Xrayd today and check if your site meets EAA standards. Try for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EAA apply to B2B?+