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European Accessibility Act 2025: what it means for your online store
A visually appealing website is great, but a website that everyone can use and enjoy is even better.
Accessibility isn’t a new concept, and regulations have long been in place to ensure the online world is inclusive. However, with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into effect in 2025, there are new requirements businesses need to consider. And yes, we’re not in the EU anymore, but does it impact you if you’re selling in Europe? The short answer is yes, but let’s take a look at the long answer and see what these new regulations are going to mean for you and your ecommerce business.
1.3 billion people globally live with a disability
A bit about online accessibility
Web accessibility is about making websites, apps, and digital content usable for everyone, including those with physical, cognitive, visual, or hearing impairments. Don’t treat it as a box to tick, it’s about making your store better for those using it so they can read, browse, and buy with ease. That means using clear language, alternative text for images, subtitles for videos, keyboard navigation, and accessible colour contrasts. Not making your website accessible means you’re missing out on a lot of people.
Speaking of colours…
Back in 2023, we rebranded to One Degree North with a whole new set of beautiful colours: Dusk, Twilight, Midnight, Aurora, Nebula and Celestial. And you’ll be happy to hear they’re fully compliant, so they’re easy on the eyes for everyone.
We’ve got a fair few guidelines in place to make sure the colours stay compliant, so you’ll never see something like Aurora text popping up on top of a Dusk background (no need to upset the Design team like that).
Take this bit of text, for example – we've got Midnight text within a Twilight box, sitting pretty on a Dusk background.
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to the UK?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes effect on June 28, 2025, requiring all EU countries to implement the rules ensuring any new digital products meet accessibility standards. This applies to online shops, digital marketplaces, electronic communications (like emails), assistive tech, and more. Existing digital services have a bit more wiggle room (until June 28th 2030) to comply.
Now, you might be thinking, “Have you guys forgotten that Brexit did actually happen, why does this matter for UK businesses?” Well, there’s still a few things to think about, because the EAA applies to:
- EU businesses with 10+ employees and an annual turnover above €2 million.
- Non-EU businesses trading in the EU – including UK businesses selling goods or services to EU customers (including Ireland).
So, if you’re expanding or already operating in the EU, compliance to the European Accessibility Act 2025 in the UK is key. And even if you’re not, similar regulations could be on the horizon for the UK, so staying ahead now could save you trouble later.
Take a look at some of our websites (compliant, of course)
What if I don’t comply?
Nobody likes a rule-breaker, so just do it! Accessibility benefits everyone. But if that’s not convincing enough, the risks your online store might face include:
- Financial penalties (and even a criminal conviction!)
- Lost customers – if your store isn’t accessible, they’ll shop elsewhere
- Procurement exclusion – disqualification from public and private sector contracts
- Reputation damage – negative press or legal action can erode trust
All of this adds up to fewer opportunities, fewer customers, and less revenue. A lose-lose situation.
So, how do I ensure my store complies with the EEA?
To meet EAA requirements, you’ll need to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) – the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility. At a minimum, your store must be:
- Perceivable: Information must be presented in a way that all users, no matter their disability, can perceive. Use legible fonts, provide text alternatives for images and captions for videos.
- Operable: Your website can’t contain an interaction that can’t be performed by some, so ensure easy navigation, including making the components keyboard navigable and allowing for screen reader compatibility.
- Understandable: Content must be easy to follow, avoiding jargon, strange acronyms and complex sentence structures. Also, use predictable interactions for buttons and links.
- Robust: Your content needs to be compatible with a variety of ‘user agents’, such as different browsers and assistive technologies.
But if you really want to brush up on your knowledge, feel free to take a look at the official documentation.
WCAG 2.1 has three levels of compliance:
- A (Basic): Covers essential fixes but leaves some barriers.
- AA (Industry Standard): The recommended level, where the website is both accessible and usable.
- AAA (Highest): The most accessible but often impractical and unattainable for all content.
So, AA is what you’re aiming for. To check your site, run it through free accessibility tools like Acessibe.com. While not exhaustive, they’re a great starting point.
Need help? Let’s chat about your website
If you don’t think your site is hitting the mark, our design and development team will be on hand to help. We’ve already helped some of our clients who operate in the EU audit and update their websites to meet EAA standards – and we can do the same for you.
Whether you need a full accessibility audit or a few design tweaks, we’ll make sure your site is compliant.
