EAA Compliance

What is EAA Compliance?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a broad European Union (EU) law aimed at improving the availability of accessible products and services across the EU’s internal market. It covers key consumer-facing sectors including finance, transportation, e-commerce, telecommunications, and digital media. EAA compliance is achieved by meeting the requirements of EN 301 549, the harmonized European accessibility standard. EN 301 549 incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) as the baseline for digital content accessibility, covering websites, mobile apps, software, and electronic documents.

EAA Requirements.

Who the EAA applies to:

The EAA applies to organizations in specific consumer-focused sectors across the EU. These include:

Banking and financial services:

• Online banking platforms, ATMs, and digital communications from financial institutions

E-commerce and retail:

• Online stores and platforms that enable consumer purchases or contracts

Transport services:

• Air, rail, bus, and maritime passenger services (including booking websites and electronic tickets)

Telecommunications:

• Phone and internet service providers, messaging platforms, and customer account portals

Audiovisual media:

• Television broadcasting services, video streaming platforms, and related digital interfaces

Digital publishing:

• E-books and associated reading applications or devices

Information and Communications Technology (IT) products:

• Hardware and software such as computers, smartphones, self-service kiosks (e.g., ticket machines or ATMs), and operating systems

What the EAA applies to:

The EAA requirements cover a wide range of content and services that must be accessible. For example, it applies to:

• Websites and mobile applications
• Electronic documents (e.g., PDFs, invoices, contracts, manuals)
• Software user interfaces
• Multimedia content (including videos and audio)
• Self-service terminals (such as ATMs, point-of-sale systems, ticketing machines, and information kiosks)
• Product information, including packaging, labels, and user instructions
• Customer service communications and support channels (help desks, call centers, etc.)

EN 301 549: Required Standards for EAA Compliance.

The EAA relies on EN 301 549 as the official European standard for accessibility compliance. EN 301 549 incorporates WCAG standards, specifically WCAG 2.1 Level AA, as the minimum benchmark for accessible web content, software, and electronic documents. It also includes additional requirements for hardware and devices—for example, compatibility with assistive technologies, tactile indicators on keypads, and auditory feedback for kiosks or ATMs.

While the more recent WCAG 2.2 is not yet mandated by the EAA or EN 301 549, Allyant recommends adopting it as a forward-looking best practice.

Deadlines for EAA Compliance.

The primary compliance deadline for the EAA was June 28, 2025. By that date, all new products and services introduced to the EU market were required to meet the Act’s accessibility requirements. Key transitional provisions include:

Existing products:

• Products first placed on the market before June 28, 2025 may continue to be sold until June 28, 2030 without retrofitting

Existing services:

• Services offered to the public before June 28, 2025 may continue as-is until June 28, 2030, depending on each member state’s implementation of the rules

Self-service terminals:

• Terminals already in service before 2025 (e.g., ATMs, ticket kiosks) can remain operational until the end of their life cycle (potentially up to around 2045)

Microenterprises:

• Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million annual turnover are generally exempt from certain requirements of the EAA’s services provisions, subject to national regulations.

Penalties for Non-Compliance with the EAA.

Each EU member state is responsible for enforcing the EAA, and penalties for non-compliance vary by country. They are intended to be “effective, proportionate, and dissuasive.” Consequences for non-compliance may include:

Administrative fines:

• In some jurisdictions, fines can reach substantial amounts (hundreds of thousands of euros) for serious violations.

Legal enforcement actions:

• Actions may include orders to cease non-compliant practices or to remediate accessibility issues.

Exclusion from public contracts:

• For example, an organization may be disqualified from government procurement opportunities due to non-compliance.

Reputational damage:

• Authorities may publicly disclose violations, which can negatively impact an organization’s brand and customer trust.

How Allyant Helps Support EAA Compliance Obligations.

Allyant provides targeted solutions to help organizations meet their obligations within the European Accessibility Act:

Comprehensive digital audits and ongoing support:

We assess websites, mobile apps, and software against WCAG 2.2 Level AA criteria (exceeding the EN 301 549 baseline requirements). Our accessibility audits include both automated and manual testing. And our audit platform delivers detailed results, actionable insights, and real-time guidance to help resolve issues and maintain compliance over time.

Document accessibility strategy:

We evaluate digital document repositories to identify which files need to be remediated and which can be archived. Our remediation services ensure that PDFs and other documents are fully accessible (screen-reader compatible) and conform to WCAG guidelines and PDF/UA standards.

Alternative format production:

We produce accessible alternative formats such as braille, reflowed large print, accessible PDFs, audio files, and structured text. This service helps organizations meet the EAA’s requirements for effective communication, ensuring that end-users can receive information in a format that meets their needs.

Third-party technology assessments:

We review third-party tools and platforms for accessibility prior to procurement or integration, ensuring vendor technologies align with EN 301 549 criteria.

Software and product auditing and VPAT support:

We audit software and digital products and provide comprehensive Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) to help vendors demonstrate their accessibility compliance.

Litigation support services:

f an organization faces accessibility-related complaints or legal action, Allyant’s Accessibility Claims Team offers expert analysis and documentation to assist legal counsel.

If you’re ready to meet EAA compliance requirements, we’re ready to help. Engage our team today.