New Digital Accessibility Law Takes Effect: What Businesses Need to Know

2 min read

The Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG) will come into force on June 28, 2025. It obliges many companies to make their digital offerings accessible. But what does the law on digital accessibility mean specifically for companies and their websites? This article clarifies the most important questions.

Who needs to implement the digital accessibility law?

The regulation primarily affects companies that sell products or services directly to end consumers. These include, among others:

• Online retailers
• Banks and financial services providers
• Public transport companies
• Digital media providers

Exempt are micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover or annual balance sheet total of up to 2 million Euro.

What legal requirements apply?

The Federal Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (BFSG) is based on the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and sets binding requirements for digital accessibility. Companies must adhere to the European standard EN 301 549, which is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines contain detailed technical standards for implementation.

What should companies consider when implementing accessibility?

Companies must ensure that their digital offerings are accessible to all user groups. This includes:

• Alternative texts for images
• High contrast between text and background
• A intuitive, well-structured navigation
• Operability of all functions via keyboard
• Avoidance of blinking or flashing elements

Since the adaptation can be time-consuming depending on the size of the website, it is advisable to start optimizing early.

“The full-service agency analyzes the current state of the digital presence, identifies optimization potentials, and develops a tailored strategy for a future-proof implementation.”

How can companies check their accessibility status?

There are various testing procedures companies can use to check the compliance of their websites. These include:

• BITV Test by the BIK initiative, which assesses compliance with the Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV).
• WAVE Accessibility Checker by WebAIM, a tool for independently checking accessibility.

Why is digital accessibility relevant for all companies?

Regardless of legal obligations, a barrier-free website offers numerous benefits:

• Increased reach and improved user experience
• Better discoverability through search engine optimization (SEO)
• Strengthening the company’s image as an inclusive and responsible provider

Evernine assists companies on their journey to accessibility

Evernine is the competent partner for companies seeking assistance with optimizing their website or planning a complete redesign of their web presence. The full-service agency analyzes the current state of the digital presence, identifies optimization potentials, and develops a tailored strategy for a future-proof implementation.

Interested parties can schedule a free consultation at [email protected] to bring their website up to the latest standards of digital accessibility.

Source title image: Unsplash / Elizabeth Woolner