Does the European Accessibility Act apply to my product or service?

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA is an EU-wide directive that aims to harmonise accessibility requirements for a range of digital services. If your product or service is used by consumers in the EU, you’ll likely be affected.

At its core, the law ensures that people with disabilities can use essential digital tools without barriers. Think about booking tickets, shopping online, reading e-books, or using mobile banking. For millions of Europeans, these basic activities are still frustrating or even impossible due to poor digital accessibility.

Who needs to comply?

The Act applies to services that are consumer-facing and fall under categories such as:

• Telephony (including emergency services)
• Audiovisual media services (like video players or on-demand content)
• Transport information (tickets, apps, and websites)
• Consumer banking
• E-books and e-readers
• E-commerce

If your service targets EU consumers in any of these categories, you’ll need to comply.

What counts as e-commerce?

It’s not just traditional webshops. Any website or app that leads to a consumer contract, even if the transaction doesn’t happen onlin, counts. That includes booking tools, quote forms, and platforms with gated content.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, but they’re limited. You’re exempt if:

• You only serve business clients (B2B)
• You're a micro-enterprise: fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million in annual turnover

Important for Belgium: even if you’re a micro-enterprise, you’ll still need to comply by 2030.

What happens if you don’t comply?

That depends on the severity of the violation. Authorities can issue:

• A warning, with a deadline to fix the issues
• An official report, which may lead to fines between €26 and €150,000, or further legal consequences

Accessibility isn't just a checklist, it's a mindset

Today, 1 in 4 Europeans has a disability. Yet 93% of websites still have accessibility barriers. That’s not just a missed legal requirement, it’s a missed opportunity to reach more people, create better user experiences, and build lasting trust.

Designing with accessibility from the start leads to more inclusive, usable, and future-proof digital products for everyone.

What should you do now?

Start preparing. Here's how:

• Have your website or app tested for compliance with EN 301 549, the European accessibility standard (based on the WCAG guidelines)
• Fix any issues that are identified during the audit
• Publish an accessibility statement outlining your compliance level, any known limitations, and what support users can expect

Accessibility is good design

At Wieni, we believe digital accessibility should be a foundation, not an afterthought. The European Accessibility Act is a chance to raise the bar and build digital experiences that work for everyone.

Need help preparing for the EAA? Let’s talk.

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