Accessibility Reinforcement Act: What start-ups, self-employed people and online stores need to know

The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which comes into force on June 28, 2025, brings with it significant legal obligations for a large number of companies. It is crucial that affected companies understand the legal consequences and take appropriate measures to minimize legal risks.

Scope of application and obligations

The BFSG covers a wide range of economic players, including e-commerce companies and online stores, providers of banking services, telecommunications companies, interregional passenger transport companies and manufacturers and retailers of computers, smartphones and e-book readers. Providers of e-books and software are also affected. These companies are obliged to make their products and services accessible. There is an important exception for micro-enterprises providing services that employ fewer than 10 people and have an annual turnover of no more than 2 million euros; however, this exception does not apply to products.

Legal deadlines and transitional regulations

The deadline of June 28, 2025 marks the start of the legal obligations. From this date, all new products and services must comply with the requirements of the BFSG. There are transition periods for existing offerings: digital offerings must be accessible by 2030, while self-service terminals have a transition period of 15 years. Companies are strongly advised not to exhaust these deadlines, but to complete implementation much earlier in order to minimize any legal risks.

Possible legal consequences of non-compliance

Non-compliance with the BFSG can have considerable legal and financial consequences:

– Fines: The law provides for fines of up to 100,000 euros. In the case of serious infringements, these fines can also be imposed repeatedly.
– warnings: There is a risk of warning letters under competition law from competitors or consumer protection associations. These can lead to considerable costs and require a cease-and-desist declaration.
– Civil claims: Affected persons could assert claims for damages if they have suffered damage as a result of the lack of accessibility.
– Official orders: The competent authorities can order the removal of violations and impose penalty payments in the event of non-compliance.
– Reputational damage: In addition to the direct legal consequences, violations of the BFSG can lead to considerable reputational damage, which can indirectly result in further legal disputes.

Legal recommendations for action

To minimize legal risks, companies should take the following steps:

1. checking the scope of application: Companies should immediately check whether their products and services fall under the BFSG.

2. development of a compliance strategy: It is advisable to develop a detailed strategy for implementing the accessibility requirements. All steps should be carefully documented in order to be able to prove the efforts in the event of official inspections.

3. contract adjustments: Contracts with suppliers and service providers should be reviewed and updated to ensure that they also meet the requirements of the BFSG.

4. employee training: Regular training for relevant employees is necessary to raise awareness of legal requirements and ensure compliance.

5. monitoring and audits: A continuous monitoring system should be implemented, accompanied by regular internal audits to ensure compliance with the BFSG.

6. legal advice: It is advisable to consult specialized legal advisors at an early stage in order to clarify the specific requirements for the respective company and to ensure legally compliant implementation.

Examples of a lack of accessibility

Many websites have common barriers that need to be addressed as part of the BFSG:

– Insufficient text alternatives: Images without alternative text make it difficult for screen reader users to understand the content.
– Lack of keyboard navigation: websites must be fully keyboard navigable; this is often not the case.
– Videos without subtitles or audio description: hearing-impaired users need subtitles or alternative descriptions.
– Complex forms: Forms should be simply structured and offer assistance.
– Color-dependent information: Content should not be communicated exclusively via colors.

Conclusion

The Accessibility Improvement Act presents companies with considerable legal challenges. A proactive approach is essential to minimize legal risks and avoid costly litigation. Companies should use the time remaining until the law comes into force to develop and implement comprehensive compliance strategies.