European Accessibility Act for products and services

What changes?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive that aims to improve accessibility to products and services. The EAA requires that products and services are accessible to persons with disabilities. It sets minimum standards for accessibility.

Currently the European Accessibility Act is being transposed into Dutch legislation.

Which products and services does the EAA apply to?

The accessibility directive will apply to products and services including:

• (personal) computers and operating systems
• smartphones and tablets
• ATMs and other POS terminals, ticketing and check-in machines
• equipment related to digital television services
• telephony services and related equipment
• audio-visual media services such as television broadcast and related consumer equipment (access to content)
• services related to air, bus, rail, and waterborne passenger transport (including real time travel information)
• (online) banking services
• e-books and e-readers
• e-commerce services (such as web shops)

These products and services have to be completely accessible. The legislation does not distinguish between products made in the EU and products from outside the EU. All products sold in the European Union must comply with the European Accessibility Act. Accessibility requirements are listed in Annex I of the directive. You can find non-binding, possible solutions in Annex II.

For whom?

• manufacturers and vendors of products and services that must be fully accessible

When?

It is expected this change will come into effect on 28 June 2025.

Please note: The effective date of this measure is not yet final. Entry into force is subject to its passing through the upper and lower houses of parliament or proclamation of the Order in Council (Algemene Maatregel van Bestuur, AMvB) or ministerial decree and publication in the Staatsblad or Staatscourant (Government Gazette, in Dutch).