European Accessibility Act · WCAG 2.1 AA · EN 301 549
Make your online shop accessible under the European Accessibility Act.
Since 28 June 2025, e-commerce services sold to consumers in the EU must be accessible to people with disabilities. We find the barriers, fix them in your theme, and help you keep it accessible.
- Images without alt text
- Buttons without names
- Low colour contrast
- Unlabelled form fields
- Accessibility statement
- WCAG 2.1 AA / EN 301 549
- Automated + manual keyboard and screen-reader testing
- Shopify Partner
- Fixed quote before work starts, no long contracts
- English & French
What changed in June 2025
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) is now national law in every EU country. Online shops, booking sites and other e-commerce services for consumers must meet the accessibility requirements, which in practice means WCAG 2.1 level AA.
Microenterprises providing services (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover or balance sheet total of max. €2 million) are exempt. Businesses outside the EU selling to EU consumers are covered.
What most online shops get wrong
In November 2026 we scanned 26 well-known Irish online shops. All 26 failed automated accessibility checks, 14 had critical barriers, and 16 had no accessibility statement. These are the problems we see again and again, in plain words:
Grey text that’s hard to read
Light grey on white looks stylish but people with low vision, and anyone on a phone in the sun, can’t read it. Our most common finding: 17 of 26 shops.
Photos with no description
A blind customer’s screen reader says nothing, or reads out a file name like “IMG_2381.jpg”, instead of telling them what the product looks like.
Icon buttons with no name
The cart, search and close (×) icons are announced only as “button”. The customer has no idea which one adds to cart.
Form fields without labels
Checkout fields with only grey placeholder text that disappears when you type. Screen readers can’t tell customers what to enter.
Only works with a mouse
Menus, size pickers and pop-ups that can’t be used with a keyboard lock out people who can’t use a mouse.
No accessibility statement
The law requires shops to explain how their service meets the accessibility requirements. Most shops haven’t published one.
What happens if a shop doesn’t comply?
Each EU country sets its own penalties. Authorities usually start by ordering a shop to fix the problems, but they can also fine it, and consumer groups can take legal action. Maximum penalties in some of the main markets:
| Country | Maximum penalty | Who enforces it |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Up to €60,000 and/or up to 18 months in prison (conviction on indictment); up to €5,000 on summary conviction | CCPC |
| France | €7,500 per breach for a company, €15,000 for a repeat breach | DGCCRF |
| Germany | Up to €100,000 | Market surveillance authority (MLBF) |
| Austria | Up to €80,000 | Social Ministry Service |
| Sweden | Penalty fee up to SEK 10 million (about €900,000) | PTS |
| Croatia | €6,630 to €132,720 for a company | State Inspectorate |
| Other EU countries | Orders to fix, penalty payments and fines set by national law | National authorities |
Figures are maximums under each country’s law implementing the EAA, as published by national authorities and legal commentators (checked November 2026). They can change and depend on the case. This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer.
Example: before and after a repair
A Shopify store on the standard Dawn theme, with the problems we find on real shops: grey text, unnamed icons, missing labels, hidden keyboard focus and a pop-up that only worked with a mouse. This is our demo store, not a client.
198 automated issues · high risk · no accessibility statement · pop-up unusable by keyboard
0 automated issues · keyboard and screen-reader checked · statement published in the footer
- Page language set, so screen readers use the right voice
- Names for cart, account and social icons
- Text colour fixed for readable contrast
- Visible keyboard focus restored
- Pop-up rebuilt: opens with Enter, closes with Esc, focus returns
- A missing label in the theme’s own quantity field fixed
Services
Real fixes in your code, not overlay widgets. Clear prices, a fixed scope, and you only pay for the next step if you want it.
Free check
Within 2 working days
Automated scan of your key pages with a short PDF report of the most important barriers.
Audit
3–5 working days
- 10–20 pages, automated + manual testing
- Keyboard and screen-reader test of the checkout
- Prioritised fix list in plain language
- Accessibility statement draft
Remediation
1–2 weeks
- We fix the issues in your Shopify, WooCommerce or Shopware theme
- Work on a copy, published only after your approval
- Before/after report
Monitoring
Monthly
- Monthly re-scan and report
- Small fixes for new issues (up to 2 hours a month)
- Cancel any month
For comparison: large agencies often quote from €1,000 for an automated scan to €10,000 or more for a manual audit. We focus on small and mid-sized shops on standard platforms, which keeps the work fast and the price low.
Why not just install an accessibility widget?
Widgets (“overlays”) add a toolbar on top of your shop. They don’t change the code underneath, so the barriers stay. Many disabled users switch them off, and shops using them have still been taken to court.
| Overlay widget | Real fixes (what we do) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixes the actual code | No | Yes, in your theme |
| Works with users’ own screen readers | Often interferes | Yes, tested with NVDA and keyboard |
| Monthly fee forever | Usually | No, monitoring is optional |
| Evidence for an accessibility statement | Weak | Audit report and before/after results |
Product safety information (GPSR)
Since 13 December 2024 the EU General Product Safety Regulation requires every online product listing to show who made the product and how to use it safely. Many shops still miss it.
What each product page needs
- Manufacturer name, postal and electronic address
- EU responsible person, if the manufacturer is outside the EU
- Product identifier (model, batch, SKU or EAN)
- Warnings and safety information in the buyer’s language
GPSR check
Or €229 together with the accessibility audit
We check your product pages and list exactly what is missing, in plain language.
GPSR update
2–5 working days
We add the missing information to your product template and listings, on a copy, published after your approval.
You provide the manufacturer and safety details; we put them in the right place. Technical service, not legal advice. More about GPSR
How it works
- Free check. Send us your shop URL; you receive a short report within 2 working days.
- Audit. We test your key pages and the full purchase flow, automated and by hand.
- Fix. We implement the fixes in your theme with staff/collaborator access – no passwords shared.
- Stay on track. Monthly monitoring catches new issues before your customers do.
Frequently asked questions
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to my shop?
It applies to e-commerce services offered to consumers in the EU, unless you are a microenterprise (fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet total of max. €2 million). If you are unsure, ask your legal adviser; we can help you with the technical side.
Can an accessibility widget or overlay make my shop compliant?
No. Overlays do not fix the underlying code and often create new problems for screen-reader users. We fix the theme itself.
Which platforms do you work with?
Shopify, WooCommerce and Shopware, plus custom HTML/CSS/JavaScript front ends.
Do you guarantee legal compliance?
We provide technical accessibility testing and implementation against WCAG 2.1 AA / EN 301 549. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice, and third-party components (payment providers, apps) are outside our control.
What is GPSR and does it apply to me?
The EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU 2023/988) applies to consumer products sold in the EU, including online, since 13 December 2024. Online listings must show the manufacturer, a product identifier and safety information. Unlike the accessibility rules, there is no general exemption for small businesses. We check and update your product pages; your legal adviser can confirm what applies to your products.
Where are you based?
We work remotely with clients across the EU, in English and French.
Find out where your shop stands
Send us your shop URL and get a free accessibility check, with no obligation.
Or write to veracess.compliance@gmail.com