While EAA is implemented similarly across most countries, there are some minor differences, so it’s necessary to understand the specifics. If you’re a business operating in Belgium and working on EAA compliance, we’re here to help you understand what’s required.
In this post, we break down everything you need to know about the European Accessibility Act in Belgium – who needs to comply, key exemptions, deadlines, penalties, and the steps you need to take to stay compliant. By the end, you’ll have a clear, practical understanding of what’s expected.
Belgium implemented the European Accessibility Act (EAA) by amending existing national laws rather than creating one single law. The core of this transposition happened through the Belgian Accessibility Act, adopted in November 2023.
This law:
Together, these changes introduce accessibility requirements for services like e-commerce, online banking, and consumer-facing digital platforms.
If you’d like to learn how the EAA is implemented in other EU countries, check out our dedicated articles on Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Private-sector companies that manufacture, distribute, or provide consumer-facing products and services in Belgium must comply with the EAA (unless exempt).
Key areas covered include:
To get a clear understanding of who the EAA applies to, we recommend checking out our detailed guide: Who Needs to Comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
While most businesses need to follow the new accessibility rules, there are a few exceptions under Belgium’s implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA):
If your business has fewer than 10 employees and earns €2 million or less per year, you’re temporarily exempt from service-related accessibility requirements – but only until June 28, 2030.
⚠️ Important: This exemption does not apply if you manufacture physical products like ticket machines, smartphones, or e-readers. You’ll still need to meet the accessibility rules for those.
You can apply for a partial exemption if meeting a specific accessibility requirement would cause excessive cost or technical difficulty.
If an accessibility requirement would fundamentally alter the core function of your product or service, you may request an exemption.
Even if you’re claiming an exemption, make everything as accessible as possible within your constraints.
Also, you’re still expected to be transparent: publish an accessibility statement, clearly explain any exceptions you’re relying on (like a disproportionate burden or fundamental change), and show that you’re actively working to improve accessibility wherever you reasonably can.
Belgium follows the EU-wide timeline for the EAA, with a few additional grace periods built in. Here’s what businesses need to know:
All new or significantly updated products and services placed on the market from this date must comply with EAA accessibility requirements.
Emergency services, such as the 112 number, must meet accessibility requirements, including real-time text, video relay, and other accessible communication options.
Self-service terminals (e.g., ATMs, ticketing machines) installed before 28 June 2025 can remain in use for up to 20 years but must comply with EAA requirements by this date at the latest.
For a detailed overview of the full EAA compliance timeline, we recommend exploring this guide: European Accessibility Act Deadline.
If your business fails to meet the accessibility requirements under the Belgian implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), there are serious consequences. Enforcement focuses on both financial penalties and restrictions on market access.
When an authority identifies a violation (through a complaint or an inspection), the first step will typically be a notice or order to comply. The company will be given a deadline to fix the accessibility issues and bring the product or service into conformity.
⚠️ Note: Starting June 2025, businesses are required to publish an accessibility statement. If you don’t provide one or leave out known issues, you may face penalties.
To ensure EAA compliance in Belgium, businesses must meet the accessibility requirements outlined in the European Accessibility Act. While there isn’t a single, unified law, the standard for compliance is consistent: your products and services must be accessible to people with disabilities.
This means aligning with two key technical standards:
Here’s how to get started:
Determine which of your consumer-facing products and digital services fall under the EAA. These include websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, banking interfaces, telecom services, self-service terminals (like ATMs or ticket machines), e-books, and video streaming platforms.
Evaluate your digital platforms and physical products against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.2 Level AA to spot any accessibility gaps. Use WebYes to test your website or app, and seek expert advice for hardware or sector-specific services like telecom or transport.
Use your audit results to build a clear action plan. Focus on fixing high-impact accessibility issues first, and assign clear responsibilities to make steady progress, keeping Belgium’s June 28, 2025, deadline in mind.
Make sure your designers, developers, and content teams understand the WCAG principles and how they apply in practice. Offer ongoing training to embed accessibility into your design, development, and QA processes.
Once you’ve improved accessibility, publish a statement on your website or with your product. This is a legal requirement in Belgium and should clearly outline your compliance status and give users a way to report any issues.
Accessibility is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time fix. Regularly re-test your digital platforms using WebYes for automated monitoring, and schedule manual checks for physical products and custom digital solutions to stay compliant long term.
WebYes can help you make your website EAA compliant. You don’t need to spend hours trying to interpret complex WCAG guidelines – our tool does the heavy lifting by automatically detecting issues and guiding you through simple, clear fixes.
Here’s how WebYes supports your accessibility and compliance journey:
By helping you meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA – the standard behind Europe’s accessibility rules – WebYes sets you on the path to EAA compliance. Run a free website audit to check your site’s accessibility and take the first step toward compliance.
⚠️ Note: Automated tools are a great starting point, but they can’t catch everything. To achieve full EAA compliance, you’ll also need manual testing – especially for things like keyboard navigation, screen reader behavior, and user experience.
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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