What the European Accessibility Act means for your business
A plain-language guide for SME owners, e-commerce managers and agencies — what the law actually requires, who it applies to, and what to do before a complaint lands.
What the EAA is, in one paragraph
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882, the "EAA") is EU law that requires a broad range of products and digital services to be accessible to people with disabilities. For websites and apps, the practical benchmark is the harmonised standard EN 301 549, which in turn points to WCAG 2.1 level AA. If you sell to consumers online in the EU, this almost certainly includes you.
The dates that matter
Who it applies to
The EAA covers specific services provided to consumers. The most common for SMEs and agencies are:
- E-commerce — any site selling goods or services to consumers
- Banking and payment services, and e-money
- E-books and dedicated reading software
- Transport ticketing, booking and real-time travel information
- Electronic communications and their customer-facing apps
Micro-enterprise relief: businesses with fewer than 10 staff and under €2M turnover are generally exempt for services. Most growing e-commerce shops and all agencies' clients above that threshold are in scope.
What non-compliance can cost
Penalties are set by each member state, so they vary widely. A representative sample:
| Member state | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Up to €60,000 + possible imprisonment |
| Germany | Up to €100,000 per infringement |
| Italy | Up to 5% of annual turnover |
| Spain | Up to €600,000 for serious cases |
Figures are indicative and change; enforcement often starts with a complaint, an order to fix, and reputational exposure long before a maximum fine.
What to do now
- Find out where you stand. Run an automated scan to surface the highest-risk issues fast.
- Fix the critical issues first. Missing alt text, unlabelled controls, invisible focus and low contrast cover most real complaints.
- Keep a dated record. Documented, ongoing remediation is what regulators look for.
- Monitor continuously. A site drifts out of compliance with every deploy — re-scan regularly.
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