Does the EAA apply to companies outside the EU?

Yes. Any company selling products or services to EU customers is subject to the EAA, regardless of where the company is headquartered. US, UK, and other non-EU businesses that have customers in EU member states must ensure their in-scope digital products and services meet WCAG 2.1 AA.

What is the small enterprise exemption?

Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees AND annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million) are exempt from EAA requirements for services but not for products that they manufacture. The exemption does not apply to service accessibility in most cases.

What digital products and services does the EAA cover?

The EAA covers: computers, smartphones, and operating systems; payment terminals and ATMs; ticketing and check-in machines; websites and mobile apps providing access to covered services; banking services; e-books and dedicated reading software; electronic communications (email, messaging, video conferencing); and audiovisual media services.

How is the EAA enforced?

EU member states are responsible for enforcement through their national market surveillance authorities. Penalties vary by member state but can include fines, product withdrawal orders, and bans on placing non-compliant products on the market. Disability advocacy organizations can also bring complaints.

Is WCAG 2.2 required for EAA compliance or only WCAG 2.1?

EN 301 549, which the EAA references, currently incorporates WCAG 2.1 as its web content standard. WCAG 2.2 is backward compatible — implementing WCAG 2.2 AA satisfies all WCAG 2.1 AA requirements and adds additional protections. Adopting WCAG 2.2 is future-proofing for when EN 301 549 updates to reference WCAG 2.2.

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European Accessibility Act Guide

EU Directive 2019/882 requiring products and services sold in EU member states to be accessible by June 28, 2025. Covers websites, mobile apps, e-commerce, banking, e-books, and more.

Overview

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), EU Directive 2019/882, is a landmark EU law standardizing accessibility requirements for products and services across all 27 EU member states. Unlike previous EU accessibility laws (which primarily covered public sector websites), the EAA extends to the private sector — applying to any business placing products or services on the EU market.

The EAA compliance deadline for new products and services was June 28, 2025. Businesses had until June 28, 2025 to bring their in-scope products and services into compliance. Existing contracts for services may continue under their current terms until June 28, 2030. After 2030, full compliance is required across all service contracts.

The EAA's technical standard is EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web content and web-based services. For digital products and services, meeting WCAG 2.1 AA is the primary technical route to EAA compliance. However, the EAA also covers hardware products (payment terminals, ATMs, ticketing machines, computers, smartphones) and requires accessible consumer electronics, banking services, e-books, and electronic communications.

Key Requirements

Websites, mobile apps, and web-based services must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA
E-commerce checkout processes must be fully accessible
Banking and financial services websites and apps must be accessible
E-books and dedicated reading software must support accessibility features
Electronic communications services must provide accessible interfaces
Hardware products (payment terminals, ATMs, computers) must meet physical accessibility requirements
Operators must provide accessible customer support channels
Accessibility statements and conformance documentation must be available on request
Products must support assistive technologies used in member states
Manufacturers must assess conformance before placing products on the market

Compliance Deadline

June 28, 2025 — the EAA compliance deadline for new products and services placed on the EU market. Existing service contracts may continue until June 28, 2030.

Who Must Comply

All businesses placing in-scope products or services on the EU market, regardless of where they are based. US, UK, and non-EU companies selling digital products or services to EU customers are fully subject to the EAA. Small enterprises (fewer than 10 employees AND annual turnover/balance sheet below €2 million) are exempt from some requirements.

How VPATify Helps

The EAA deadline has passed, making compliance documentation an immediate priority for businesses selling to EU customers. VPATify provides the fastest path to generating a documented conformance report: scan your web properties, review the results against WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, and export an ACR that demonstrates your due diligence and conformance status.

VPATify's scan results are mapped to WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria — the same criteria required by EN 301 549 for EAA web compliance. When enforcement actions occur in EU member states, having a documented ACR with scan-backed evidence of conformance assessment is essential for demonstrating good faith compliance efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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