Regulation
EAA and accessibility: the most asked questions
Clear, direct answers to the questions businesses ask about the European Accessibility Act.
Here are the answers to the questions that come up most often about the European Accessibility Act and compliance. To go further, each answer links to a dedicated resource.
Frequently asked questions
What is the European Accessibility Act?
It is Directive (EU) 2019/882, which requires many consumer-facing digital products and services to be accessible across the Union. It has applied since 28 June 2025.
Is my site concerned?
If you sell online or offer a digital service to European consumers, most likely. Some service microenterprises are partially exempt.
Which standard must I meet?
For the web, the reference is the EN 301 549 standard, which mirrors WCAG 2.2 level AA.
Is an overlay enough to be compliant?
No. An overlay does not fix the source code and can even hinder screen-reader users. Durable compliance comes from real fixes.
What is the risk of non-compliance?
Depending on the country, financial penalties, formal notices and lost customers. Amounts vary from one member state to another.
Do I need an accessibility statement?
It is often required and always recommended. It states your conformance status, non-accessible content and a contact channel.
How long does compliance take?
It depends on the site size, but many priority issues are fixed quickly. A scan immediately shows the scope of work.
Where do I start?
With a baseline: a free scan reveals your score, your priority issues and whether a statement is missing.
Does the EAA apply to non-EU businesses?
Yes. The criterion is the consumer served, not the company's headquarters: an American, British or Swiss company selling online to Union consumers is covered for those sales.
My business has fewer than 10 employees: am I exempt?
Maybe. The exemption targets service microenterprises: fewer than 10 people AND an annual turnover (or balance sheet total) not exceeding 2 million euros. It does not cover products, and you must be able to substantiate your situation if checked.
What is the difference between the 2025 and 2030 deadlines?
28 June 2025 is the general application date. 28 June 2030 is the end of the maximum transition period: some service contracts concluded before 2025 may run unchanged until that date at the latest. A new or redesigned service must comply now.
Is a purely B2B site concerned?
The EAA protects consumers: a service strictly reserved for professionals generally falls outside its scope. Beware, however, of mixed sites that also serve individuals, and of other laws that may apply depending on your sector.
Who checks compliance in my country?
Each member state designates its market surveillance authorities: they vary by country and sometimes by sector. Our EAA country pages list the competent authority and the national transposition law.
Is an automated scan enough to prove compliance?
No. An automated scan catches a large share of measurable issues, but some criteria require human review. The right approach combines regular scans, fixes at the source, targeted manual checks and an honest, up-to-date statement.
Related definitions
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