Guide · updated September 2026
The EAA and your US business, in plain English
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) has been in force since June 28, 2025, and here's the part US companies keep missing: it applies based on where your customers are, not where your company is. If EU consumers can buy your product or use your digital service, the EAA is your problem too — the same way GDPR turned out to be.
Who's covered
E-commerce sites selling into the EU, SaaS and consumer digital services with EU users, banking and payment interfaces, e-books and readers, transport and ticketing services. Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and under €2M turnover) get a service-provider exemption — but their products generally don't, and marketplaces amplify exposure.
What it actually requires
In practice: WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance for web and mobile interfaces (via the EN 301 549 standard), an accessibility statement describing how you conform, and accessible customer-support channels. Enforcement is per member state — market surveillance authorities can fine you, restrict sales, or accept consumer complaints in each country where you sell.
The realistic checklist
- Scan your site against WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and fix in priority order (forms, keyboard, images, contrast — same order as ADA work, one effort covers both).
- Publish an accessibility statement that reflects your real state — not boilerplate (ours generates from your actual scan).
- Keep timestamped remediation records — EU authorities, like US plaintiff lawyers, respond to documented effort.
- Check your support channels: an accessible site with an inaccessible chat widget still fails.
Sources: EU Directive 2019/882; EN 301 549; W3C WCAG. Educational content, not legal advice.