The EAA requires all products and services in the EU to meet specific accessibility standards by June 28, 2025. Although the United Kingdom is out of the EU, many UK businesses wonder if the European Accessibility Act (EAA) still applies to them.
In this guide, we’ll help clarify whether the EAA applies to UK businesses and who qualifies for exemptions. Plus, we’ll walk you through the key steps to ensure your business is EAA compliant. We will also share tools to achieve compliance.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) doesn’t automatically apply in the UK. However, if your UK business sells products or services to consumers in the EU, you must still comply with the EAA to continue doing business there.
For small businesses, there’s an exemption. If you have fewer than 10 employees and annual revenue below two million Euros, you’re not required to comply. However, if your business exceeds these thresholds, EAA compliance is mandatory to continue operating in the EU.
Important deadlines:
The EAA is enforced by individual EU member states, not a central EU body. Each country has its own rules, fines, and enforcement methods. This means that penalties and fines vary depending on the country where your business is selling.
Since enforcement is handled at the national level, each country can investigate and impose penalties based on their laws. If your business operates in several EU markets, you could face fines in more than one country for the same non-compliance issue.
EU countries can impose different types of penalties, including:
Check out our guide on EAA fines and penalties for more details.
If your business follows UK accessibility laws like the Equality Act 2010 or the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, you’ve already made great progress toward European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance.
Both UK and EU rules follow WCAG standards for digital platforms. So if your website or app is already WCAG-compliant, you’ve already met a key part of the EAA’s requirements. In many cases, only minor adjustments are needed to align fully with EU standards.
However, the EAA goes beyond digital accessibility – it also applies to physical products. If you sell to EU customers, certain devices – like e-readers, smartphones, and other electronic gadgets – must meet specific accessibility standards.
So while your website and digital content might already be compliant, you’ll need to check your physical products to ensure they meet EAA accessibility rules.
To be EAA compliant as a UK business, make sure your website and app already meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA. If you sell physical products, ensure they meet accessibility standards, such as EN 301 549 and other harmonised European requirements.
Follow these steps to ensure your products and services comply with the EAA and remain accessible in the EU market.
Check out our guide on how often you should audit your website for accessibility.
After following these steps, your business will be well-positioned to meet EAA requirements and provide an inclusive experience for all users. Staying proactive about accessibility not only ensures compliance but also builds trust and loyalty with your customers.
WebYes is here to make your website EAA compliant. If you’re unsure where to begin, our tool provides a clear starting point to help you work toward EAA website requirements.
With a detailed accessibility audit, WebYes identifies WCAG violations that could impact users with disabilities, giving you insight into what needs improvement to meet essential standards.
Note that automated tools alone cannot make your website fully WCAG compliant. After running an audit with WebYes, the tool will flag areas requiring manual review.
By manually auditing these flagged areas and addressing any issues, you can achieve full WCAG compliance and ensure your website meets EAA standards.
Article by
Melwyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has been writing professionally for over 4 years. He has a strong background in SEO and is certified in web accessibility from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When he's not writing about website optimisation, you can find him enjoying a game of FIFA or exploring the open world of GTA.
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