BFSG & European Accessibility Act: what companies need to prepare for
With the accessibility legislation and the European Accessibility Act, digital accessibility is moving into sharper focus. We give a factual overview – and show how to prepare your website pragmatically.
There is a lot of uncertainty around the Accessibility Improvement Act (BFSG) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA). This article puts the topic in perspective: what it's about, who it affects, and what a sensible approach looks like. One important note up front: we are not legal advisors – the legal assessment of individual cases belongs in expert hands. What we can do is make your website technically and visually accessible.
We offer exactly this assessment and implementation as part of our Accessibility service.
What the BFSG and EAA are about
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive that harmonizes accessibility requirements for certain products and services. The BFSG is the German implementation. Both aim to make digital offerings usable for as many people as possible – in terms of content, they follow recognized standards such as the WCAG.
Who it affects
The main focus is on providers of certain digital services and products in the consumer market. Whether and to what extent your company is affected depends on the individual case — factors include industry, offering, and company size. You should have this classification reviewed legally; we provide support on the technical side.
What this means for websites in concrete terms
Regardless of the legal classification, the requirements practically boil down to an accessible website: operable by keyboard, sufficient contrast, meaningful alternative texts, a clear structure, and labeled forms. What that means in detail is explained in our article WCAG 2.2 explained simply.
Why acting early pays off
Tackling accessibility early makes things easier – both technically and economically. Retrofitting under time pressure is more expensive than building cleanly from the start. And the benefits go beyond compliance: an accessible site reaches more people, appears more professional, and is usually easier for search engines to read.
How we prepare your website
We start with an audit that shows the current status and prioritizes findings by impact. We then implement the improvements directly in the code – clean and permanent instead of an overlay tool. On request, we also support you in preparing an accessibility statement. Ultimate legal responsibility remains with you; we make sure the technical foundation is right.
What the preparation costs
Costs depend on scope and your starting point. An audit followed by prioritized implementation usually makes sense – that way, your budget flows first to where it has the greatest impact. In a no-obligation initial consultation, we assess your case and propose a realistic path.
Frequently asked questions
Is my company affected by the BFSG?
That depends on the individual case – on industry, offering, and size. You should have this classification checked legally. We support you on the technical side and make your website accessible.
Do you handle the legal assessment?
No, we are not legal consultants. Legal assessment belongs in expert hands. Our job is the technical and design implementation of accessibility.
What standards are the BFSG and EAA based on?
Substantively, on the recognized WCAG. If you implement your website to WCAG 2.2 level AA, you meet the essential technical requirements for accessibility.
Should we act now?
Yes. Early implementation is cheaper and more relaxed than retrofitting under time pressure — and regardless of any requirements, it brings more reach and better discoverability.
Is an accessibility overlay tool enough?
No. Overlays often only mask barriers instead of fixing them. We implement accessibility directly in the source code — more sustainable and actually usable.
What does the preparation cost?
That depends on the scope and starting point. An audit with prioritized implementation usually makes sense. In an initial consultation, we give a first, reliable assessment.
