· Luca Moretti
The accessibility law (BFSG): who has had to comply since 28 June 2025
Germany’s Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz brought accessibility duties to private companies. Shops are in; very small service firms are out.
The European Accessibility Act’s requirements apply from 28 June 2025. Germany implemented it as the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), passed on 16 July 2021 and in force since 28 June 2025. It extends accessibility duties to private companies: online shops, banking, e-books, ticketing and more.
Who is exempt
Microenterprises that provide services, meaning fewer than 10 staff and turnover or balance sheet of €2 million or less, are exempt. Microenterprises that place products on the market are not.
Who checks
Market surveillance sits with the MLBF in Magdeburg, set up in September 2025. It can stop a service or impose fines.
What “accessible” means in practice
- Services assess themselves; following EN 301 549 gives a presumption of conformity.
- In practice that means WCAG 2.1 level AA.
- Overlay widgets are generally not enough on their own; the fixes happen in markup, labels and keyboard paths.
- WCAG 3.0 is still a draft.