The regulation, in brief

Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), has applied to the products and services it covers since 28 June 2025. The deadline has passed: the obligation is in force today.

Companies with fewer than 10 employees and under €2M annual turnover or balance sheet total are treated separately: service providers carry no accessibility obligation, and makers, importers and distributors of products may derogate without justifying it. Above those thresholds, in a covered sector, the obligation applies. Situations differ: have yours checked.

Each Member State sets its own penalties, which must be "effective, proportionate and dissuasive". They take account of "the extent of the non-compliance, including its gravity and the number of units of non-complying products or services concerned, as well as the number of affected persons" (Article 30 of the directive).

The criteria tested come from WCAG 2.1 level AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the international rules for web content accessibility), which underpin the European standard EN 301 549 and the RGAA, the reference framework published by the French government.

General information, not legal advice.

Obligations depend on your activity, your size and the services you provide. Not every company has the same obligations, and no automated result certifies legal compliance. If in doubt, have your situation checked by a legal professional.