The European Accessibility Act turned accessibility from a public-sector duty into a market requirement for private providers. Anyone offering certain products or services to consumers in the EU must make them accessible since 28 June 2025.
What is covered
Services include in particular e-commerce, meaning online shops and booking flows, consumer banking services, e-books and related software, electronic communications services and elements of passenger transport services such as websites, apps and ticketing. Products include computers, smartphones, self-service terminals, payment terminals and e-readers. Pure B2B offerings are generally not covered.
Who is exempt
Microenterprises providing services, meaning companies with fewer than ten employees and annual turnover or balance sheet of no more than EUR 2 million, are exempt from the service requirements. There are also exceptions for disproportionate burden and fundamental alteration, which must be justified and documented, and transition periods for certain existing contracts and devices.
The technical yardstick
The directive sets functional requirements. In practice conformity is presumed through the harmonised standard EN 301 549, which uses the WCAG at level AA for web content. Information duties come on top, such as a statement explaining how the service meets the requirements. Market surveillance lies with national authorities.
Why Swiss providers are affected
Switzerland is not an EU member and the directive does not apply here directly. A Swiss online shop that targets consumers in Germany or Austria, or a Swiss app with banking functions for EU customers, must still comply, because the market counts, not the seat. In Switzerland itself the Disability Discrimination Act applies; the Federal Council adopted a revision in December 2024 intended to place stronger duties on private service providers. Context and approach are in our article on website accessibility.