AccessProof · Compliance guide

EU Accessibility Act (WCAG): what it is, who it applies to & how to comply

Since 28 June 2025, EU-facing e-commerce must meet WCAG 2.1 AA and publish an accessibility statement.

Since Jun 2025 EU rules

Does this apply to you?

This rule applies if you run an online shop that serves customers in the EU. Sell online to EU customers? Since June 2025 your site must be accessible (WCAG 2.1 AA). Not sure? The free checker tells you in about a minute — no signup.

What EU Accessibility Act (WCAG) requires

In practice, AccessProof's checker looks at whether you can answer "yes" to each of these. Each one is a place sellers commonly get caught:

What's at stake

⚠️ Exposure: market withdrawal + member-state fines. Status: Since Jun 2025.

Statutory maximums are worst-case ceilings, not a prediction — but they're why this is worth ten minutes now. Compare the penalty for every rule →

Common questions

Who must comply with the European Accessibility Act?

Most businesses selling products or services online to EU consumers, since 28 June 2025. Some exemptions apply to microenterprises providing services.

What standard does the EAA require?

In practice, WCAG 2.1 level AA — covering alt text, keyboard access, colour contrast, labeled forms, captions, and proper structure.

Do I need an accessibility statement?

Yes — publish a statement describing your level of conformance and how users can report accessibility barriers.

The source

RuleGoose checks this against the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) / WCAG 2.1 AA. Read it yourself: EUR-Lex — Directive (EU) 2019/882 →

Check your EU Accessibility Act (WCAG) compliance — free.
Answer a few questions and see exactly where you're exposed — free, no signup, runs in your browser. The exact paste-ready fix is a one-time $29 Fix Pack (or included with Rule-Watch). Run the AccessProof checker →

see the penalty for every rule, or get one RuleGoose Score across every rule that applies to you.

Selling on a specific platform?

How this rule lands depends on where you sell — what the platform handles for you and what's still on you differs. Pick yours:

Based outside the EU?

This is an EU rule, but it can still apply to you if you sell to EU customers — wherever your business is registered. See what it means for where you're based:

More on this rule

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Informational only, not legal advice, and not affiliated with the EU. Last reviewed 2026-07-04.