Accessibility of products and services (EAA)

Since 28 June 2025, some products and services sold to European consumers must be usable by people with disabilities.

Who is affected

• Products placed on the market after 28 June 2025 (Article 2(1)): consumer computers and operating systems, payment terminals, ticket and cash machines, check-in kiosks, telephones and other communication devices, devices for watching television or videos, e-readers.
• Services provided to consumers after 28 June 2025 (Article 2(2)): telephone and internet, access to audiovisual media, passenger transport (websites and apps), consumer banking, e-books and e-commerce (online selling).
• Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 people and an annual turnover or balance sheet of no more than 2 million euros, Article 3): exempt for services (Article 4(5)), not for products. An Asian manufacturer of phones or e-readers sold in Europe is still covered.

What to do

1. Manufacturer: technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity and CE marking; keep these documents for 5 years (Article 7).
2. Importer (Article 9): before selling, check that the manufacturer has carried out the assessment, drawn up the technical documentation and affixed the CE marking; put its own name and address on the product (or on the packaging); supply instructions in a language the buyer understands. If it thinks a product does not comply, it does not sell it and informs the manufacturer and the authorities.
3. Online selling and other services (Article 13): make the service accessible and explain to the public, in writing and orally, how it meets these requirements.
4. If you think you are exempt because it would be a "disproportionate burden" (Article 14): carry out a written assessment and keep the evidence for 5 years; the authorities may ask for it. A micro-enterprise dealing with products does not have to provide evidence, but must give the facts if the authority asks.
5. Standards: a product or service that complies with the harmonised standards published in the Official Journal of the European Union is presumed to comply (Article 15).

Dates

• Rules applied since 28 June 2025 (Article 31).
• Transition until 28 June 2030 for products that a service provider was already using before that date; service contracts signed before 28 June 2025 can run for at most 5 more years (Article 32(1)).
• Self-service terminals already installed: may be used until the end of their life, 20 years at most, if the country allows it (Article 32(2)).

Official source (text read on 01/11/2026) : Directive (EU) 2019/882 of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services — EUR-Lex

General information, not legal advice. Each European country applies it through its own law: check the official source before you decide.