Know exactly where your site stands on accessibility.

What does Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act, require?

Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), requires certain products and services placed on the EU market to be accessible to people with disabilities. For covered digital services, this means making websites and user journeys perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, with accessibility information and support where required.

When did the European Accessibility Act start applying?

The EAA’s main application date is 28 June 2025. From that date, covered products and services generally need to meet accessibility requirements implemented in each EU Member State. Existing service contracts may have transitional rules, so businesses should check the relevant national transposition law and their specific service scope rather than relying on the date alone.

Which businesses and services must comply with the EAA?

The EAA covers providers of designated services such as e-commerce, banking and payment services, passenger transport, e-books, and electronic communications (telecoms). The exact duties depend on the service and national implementation. Public and private organisations should confirm whether they are a covered provider, manufacturer, importer, or distributor before deciding what compliance work is required.

Is there a microenterprise exemption under the EAA?

The EAA gives a limited exemption to microenterprises that provide services: fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover or annual balance-sheet total no more than €2 million. Other exceptions can apply where accessibility would fundamentally alter a service or create a disproportionate burden, but they must be assessed and documented. This is not a blanket exemption for every business or product; confirm eligibility with qualified advice.

How do EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA relate to the EAA?

EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard used to express accessibility requirements for information and communication technology. For websites and web content, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the common technical reference within that framework. Meeting WCAG 2.1 AA supports EAA readiness, but organisations should also review applicable EN 301 549 provisions and national requirements.

What happens if a business does not comply with the EAA?

There is no single EU-wide EAA fine. Penalties and remedies are country- and sector-specific: France may use injunctions, daily penalty payments, publicity measures and defined statutory contraventions; Dutch supervisors may warn or fine; Germany’s MLBF can require corrective action; and Spain, the Nordic countries, Ireland and Italy use their own territorial or sectoral routes. Check the applicable national law rather than assuming a fixed amount or that every website is in scope.

How should a business test a website for EAA and WCAG readiness?

Test a site with automated accessibility checks, then validate important journeys manually. Review keyboard navigation, focus order, headings, forms, contrast, zoom and reflow, error messages, and a representative screen-reader experience. Test templates and authenticated flows, record the affected URL and element, and prioritise fixes by user impact and severity.

How often should a website be re-checked for accessibility?

Re-check after every substantial design, content, template, checkout, or platform change, because new code can reintroduce accessibility defects. A monthly automated scan is a useful baseline for monitored sites, but it does not replace manual checks with keyboard and assistive technology. Keep dated reports and remediation evidence so progress remains traceable.

1. Step 1

   Scan up to 50 pages

   Enter a URL and Clearpath crawls the top pages of the site against the accessibility rules the EAA now requires.

2. Step 2

   Severity-ranked findings

   Every issue is ranked and paired with the exact element and a plain-language fix a developer can act on today.

3. Step 3

   Branded PDF report

   Export a clean, branded compliance report with the score, prioritised issues, and remediation guidance.

4. Step 4

   Monthly re-scan digest

   Each month we re-scan and email a short findings digest: no new findings detected, or new issues found — with a link to the report.

Compare both plans in detail