European Accessibility Act EAA 2025 – Tips for eCommerce companies 

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive of the European Union. Its goal is to make products and services more accessible for people with disabilities and older people. Knowing and following the rules of this new regulation is especially important for companies running eCommerce businesses. These companies will need to adapt their platforms to the new legal requirements. 

In this article, we will present a set of key information about the regulation itself, who it applies to, the timeline of implementation, and most importantly for eCommerce owners – a list of elements that should be checked before the directive comes into force to avoid penalties. 

Who does the European Accessibility Act apply to? 

The directive, with rules known since 2019, applies to all companies that offer products or services on the EU market, no matter where they are located. The only exception is micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover below 2 million euros. 

In short, the EAA includes many types of products and services available in the European Union, including: 

• eCommerce platforms and mobile apps 

• Banking services like online banking or mobile apps 

• Electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, e-book readers 

• Transport services (e.g. ticket booking systems) 

• Audiovisual media, TVs and related equipment 

In this article, we will focus on the EAA eCommerce businesses requirements  

European Accessibility Act compliance needed from 2025

The EAA was adopted in April 2019, and EU member states had until 28 June 2022 to implement it into national law. Full compliance will be required starting from 28 June 2025. 

European Accessibility Act requirements for eCommerce 

eCommerce companies must meet several requirements to make their digital platforms accessible. Key points include: 

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance – Websites and mobile apps must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. 

• Accessible shopping process – Forms must be easy to read and use; payment processes should work with assistive tools. 

• Text alternatives – All images must have text descriptions to work with screen readers. 

• Customer support – Features like online chat must be accessible for users with screen readers and keyboard navigation. 

Additionally, companies should follow standards like EN 301 549 and use clear structure and labeling on product pages to support assistive technologies. 

Penalties for non-compliance with EAA in 2025 

Each EU country sets its own penalties for not following the EAA. Typical punishments include one-time administrative fines (from EUR 5,000 to EUR 20,000) for each violation and daily fines of up to EUR 1,000 if the issue is not fixed. 

It’s important to note that in some countries, the fine may be much higher (for example, in France, it can reach EUR 250,000), and may even lead to business suspension or public disclosure of the violation. 

To better understand the technical foundations of accessibility, check out our post about WCAG 2.1, which forms the basis for many of the requirements introduced by the European Accessibility Act. 

Why is it worth acting now? 

Complying with the EAA is not only a legal requirement, but also a chance to improve user experience and make products and services more available to a wider audience. Companies can build a positive brand image and gain a competitive advantage on the European market. 

Implementing the EAA requirements takes time and resources – it is a good idea to start now to avoid the risk of fines and damage to reputation.