EU Accessibility Act 2025: Everything You Need to Know
Major changes are set to take effect across Europe later this month. The European Accessibility Act is set to standardise accessibility across a wide range of products and services.
Whether you’re a European business or sell to consumers within the EU, it’s essential to understand the implications for your business.
We’re breaking down everything you need to know about the EU Accessibility Act and how your business can prepare for the new regulations.
What is the EU Accessibility Act 2025?
The European Accessibility Act was first announced in 2019; however, six years later, it’s only just coming into effect now in 2025.
As part of the new legislation, a wide range of goods and services must now comply with set accessibility standards. This is set to apply to both physical and digital services, including:
- Electronic devices
- Transport services
- Ecommerce websites
The act aims to improve accessibility for people living with disabilities within the EU and beyond. Any businesses or organisations trading in Europe must comply with the new regulations or risk penalty fines.
Why is the EU Accessibility Act necessary?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around 135 million people are living with a disability in Europe.
However, a disability is a protected characteristic under European and UK legislation. This means that it's against the law to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
The legal rights against discrimination also extend to consumers. That’s why the EU Accessibility Act is being introduced to make all products and services inclusive and accessible to everybody.
Who is affected by the new rules?
Any business or organisation that sells to consumers within Europe will be required to comply with the new regulations. The act will also affect any UK businesses that sell products or services to customers within the EU.
The European Accessibility Act mostly covers digital accessibility. However, the full list of products and services covered includes:
- Computers and operating systems
- Smartphones
- TV equipment and broadcasting services
- Ebooks
- Websites and apps
- Online banking services
- Cash machines
- Transport ticket and check-in machines
If your business offers any of these, it’s important to ensure that you meet the new requirements. Failure to comply can result in fines from €5,000 to €20,000, with potential €1,000 daily penalties for repeat violations.
It’s worth noting that individual countries may have different requirements for the EU Accessibility Act. We would recommend checking the requirements for the countries that your business operates in.
When does the European Accessibility Act come into effect?
The EU Accessibility Act will come into effect on June 28th, 2025. It’s important to ensure that your products or services meet the new regulations ahead of time to avoid any penalties or fines.
How can you comply with the new regulations?
Putting a clear roadmap in place can help you to assess your current products or services and understand any changes that need to be made.
We’ve put together five steps that can help you prepare for the European Accessibility Act coming into effect.
- Research the new regulations
It’s important that you fully understand the new guidelines and whether your products or services will be affected. This prevents any unnecessary time and resources from being wasted on changes that may not even be needed.
You can find out more about the regulations and who is affected by visiting the European Commission’s website.
- Consult Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are global standards for website accessibility. They set out technical specifications that can be used to create inclusive digital experiences.
Unlike the EU Accessibility Act, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are not a legal requirement. They have been designed to ensure that digital products are accessible to everyone.
This includes individuals with impairments, to:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Thinking and understanding
- Utilise accessibility checkers
Online tools can check the accessibility of your website and highlight any potential violations. This helps you to quickly understand whether your website meets the new requirements and create a plan to implement any fixes.
- Fix any accessibility issues
After you’ve addressed any issues that could be a barrier to accessibility, it’s important to create a plan to fix them. No matter how big or small the issue may seem, it’s crucial to implement changes to avoid potential fines.
- Conduct regular audits for long-term compliance
Ensuring that your business or organisation complies with the new regulations isn’t a one-and-done affair. It’s important to implement regular audits to spot potential issues and avoid any fines.
As well as using accessibility checkers, collect user feedback to pick up any issues that might not have been flagged by automated tools.
At SaleCycle, we have a dedicated design team that can help you create inclusive digital experiences that meet new guidelines. From onsite messages to off-site remarketing, get in touch with us today to find out more.
