European Accessibility Act

If you sell online to Europe, this already applies to you.

The European Accessibility Act has applied since 28 June 2025. It covers e-commerce sold to consumers in the EU no matter where the business sits, so a shop in California that ships to Germany is in scope.

since 28 June 2025, in all 27 member states: In force
anyone selling online to EU consumers, wherever they are based: Who
under 10 staff and under €2M turnover (both): Exempt

What it asks for

The harmonised standard is EN 301 549, which follows WCAG level AA. In plain terms: text people can actually read, buttons and links a screen reader can name, a checkout you can complete with a keyboard, form fields with labels, and video with captions. Services in scope also publish an accessibility statement saying how they meet it.

Penalties are set by each country rather than by Brussels, so the amounts differ across the EU. For most shops the realistic risk is a complaint or an enforcement notice with a deadline to fix the site, which is far cheaper to avoid than to answer.

What to do about it

Check the site. Run the free check on your homepage and the pages people buy through. It takes about a minute and needs no account.
Fix what it finds. Labels, contrast, keyboard use, image descriptions, pop-ups. On a typical shop that is a day or two of work, or $750 if we do it.
Publish a statement and keep records. The Act expects an accessibility statement and evidence that you maintain it. ClearShield re-checks weekly and keeps a dated record of every check and fix.

Start with where you stand

The check is free and needs no account. One scan covers WCAG, the Revised Section 508 and EN 301 549, so a shop selling on both sides of the Atlantic gets both answers at once.

Run the free check Have us fix it ($750)

Questions

Does the European Accessibility Act apply to a business outside the EU?: Yes, if you sell to consumers in the EU. The Act covers e-commerce services offered to EU consumers regardless of where the business is established, so a shop in the United States that ships to Europe is in scope.
Which businesses are exempt from the European Accessibility Act?: Microenterprises providing services are exempt: fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total under 2 million euros. Both conditions have to be met.
What does the European Accessibility Act require of a website?: The harmonised standard is EN 301 549, which follows WCAG level AA: text people can read, controls a screen reader can name, a site you can use with a keyboard, and forms with labels. Services in scope also have to publish an accessibility statement explaining how they meet it.
What happens if we do not comply?: Each EU country sets and enforces its own penalties, so the amounts differ by country, and consumers and representative bodies can bring complaints. The practical risk for most shops is a complaint or an enforcement notice, followed by a deadline to fix the site.

This page is general information about Directive (EU) 2019/882 and its national implementations, not legal advice. Automated checks find many common problems, not all of them.

If you sell online to Europe, this already applies to you.

since 28 June 2025, in all 27 member states

In force

anyone selling online to EU consumers, wherever they are based

Who

under 10 staff and under €2M turnover (both)

Exempt

What it asks for

What to do about it

Check the site. Run the free check on your homepage and the pages people buy through. It takes about a minute and needs no account.

Fix what it finds. Labels, contrast, keyboard use, image descriptions, pop-ups. On a typical shop that is a day or two of work, or $750 if we do it.

Publish a statement and keep records. The Act expects an accessibility statement and evidence that you maintain it. ClearShield re-checks weekly and keeps a dated record of every check and fix.

Start with where you stand

The check is free and needs no account. One scan covers WCAG, the Revised Section 508 and EN 301 549, so a shop selling on both sides of the Atlantic gets both answers at once.

Run the free check Have us fix it ($750)

Questions

Does the European Accessibility Act apply to a business outside the EU?

Yes, if you sell to consumers in the EU. The Act covers e-commerce services offered to EU consumers regardless of where the business is established, so a shop in the United States that ships to Europe is in scope.

Which businesses are exempt from the European Accessibility Act?

Microenterprises providing services are exempt: fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total under 2 million euros. Both conditions have to be met.

What does the European Accessibility Act require of a website?

The harmonised standard is EN 301 549, which follows WCAG level AA: text people can read, controls a screen reader can name, a site you can use with a keyboard, and forms with labels. Services in scope also have to publish an accessibility statement explaining how they meet it.

What happens if we do not comply?

Each EU country sets and enforces its own penalties, so the amounts differ by country, and consumers and representative bodies can bring complaints. The practical risk for most shops is a complaint or an enforcement notice, followed by a deadline to fix the site.

This page is general information about Directive (EU) 2019/882 and its national implementations, not legal advice. Automated checks find many common problems, not all of them.