TL;DR Key takeaways
- The European Accessibility Act applies across the EU from 28 June 2025.
- E-commerce is one of the services in scope, so many online shops are affected.
- Micro-enterprises providing services are exempt, but accessibility is still good business.
- WCAG 2.1 AA, via the EN 301 549 standard, is the practical reference to work towards.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies from 28 June 2025. It is an EU directive, which means each member state has had to bring it into its own national law, and it sets accessibility requirements for a range of products and services sold in the EU. For many businesses with a website, and especially those selling online, it is the moment accessibility moves from "nice to have" to something with legal weight.
A quick note before we go further: this is general information from a web developer, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether the EAA applies to your business, talk to a legal professional or check the guidance from the relevant authority in your country.
What the EAA covers
The Act covers certain products, such as computers, smartphones, ATMs and ticketing machines, and certain services. For most website owners, the relevant services are:
- E-commerce services, meaning selling goods or services to consumers online.
- Consumer banking services.
- E-books and the software used to read them.
- Some elements of passenger transport services, such as websites, apps and ticketing.
- Electronic communications services.
If you run an online shop selling to consumers in the EU, it is very likely you are in scope.
Who is exempt
There is an important exemption for micro-enterprises providing services. In broad terms, a micro-enterprise has fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than €2 million. Many small Irish and European businesses fall into this category.
Being exempt is not a reason to ignore accessibility, though. Accessible websites are easier for everyone to use, work better on mobile, and often perform better in search. You also have customers who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation or larger text, whatever your legal position.
Accessibility isn't a compliance box. It's whether some of your customers can buy from you at all.
The practical standard: WCAG 2.1 AA
The EAA itself sets out requirements in general terms. In practice, the harmonised European standard EN 301 549 is the reference point, and for web content it points to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at level AA. If your site meets WCAG 2.1 AA, you are in a strong position.
What to check on your website
Here are the issues I most often find when reviewing small-business sites:
- Missing alt text on meaningful images, especially product photos.
- Poor colour contrast, such as light grey text on white or text over busy images.
- Keyboard traps, where you cannot tab through menus, pop-ups or the checkout without a mouse.
- Missing form labels, where placeholders are used instead of proper labels.
- Unclear links and buttons, like several "Click here" links or icon-only buttons with no accessible name.
- No visible focus indicator, so keyboard users cannot see where they are.
- Cookie banners and chat widgets that are hard to dismiss or navigate.
Automated tools such as browser accessibility checkers are a good starting point, but they catch only part of the picture. Try using your own site with just a keyboard, and ideally with a screen reader, to find the rest.
Beyond the website
The EAA also expects information about how your service meets accessibility requirements. Many businesses are adding an accessibility statement to their website explaining what they have done, any known limitations and how customers can get help or give feedback.
Where to start
Do not try to fix everything at once. Start with your most important journeys: finding a product, adding it to the basket and completing checkout. Fix the barriers there first, then work outwards.
If you would like help, I can review your site against WCAG 2.1 AA and fix what I find. Send the details through my project brief, or read more about how I build accessible sites for businesses across Europe.