A central aspect of the European Accessibility Law (EU Directive 2019/882) is the obligation for companies to offer accessible platforms and products. However, not all companies have the same responsibilities, since the law distinguishes companies based on their size, measured by the number of employees, and their annual turnover.
Is your Company Obliged to Comply with the European Accessibility Law?
According to EU Directive 2019/882, companies operating in the European Union must comply with accessibility requirements on their websites, mobile applications and electronic documents, if they provide services to the public or market products that fall under their scope of application. However, there are exceptions for certain businesses, especially those that are microbusinesses. From Your Accessible Web we show you the companies that are exempt and required to comply.
Microbusinesses
Micro-enterprises (those that employ less than 10 people and whose annual turnover does not exceed 2 million euros) are exempt from complying with the law regarding web and technological accessibility. This is because the financial and administrative burden on them to comply with all requirements could be disproportionate to their size and resources. Although exempt, microenterprises are encouraged to adopt accessibility principles to foster their competitiveness and improve their ability to serve a broader audience, including people with disabilities.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
SMEs (companies with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than 50 million euros or whose total annual balance does not exceed 43 million euros) haveobligations adapted to their size. Although they are obliged to comply with the requirements of web accessibility, mobile and documents, the law contemplates that the administrative burdens are proportional to their resources. This means that SMEs can benefit from less demanding measures to facilitate regulatory compliance.
Large Companies
Large companies (those that exceed the SME thresholds in terms of turnover or number of employees) must comply with all accessibility requirements established by law. This includes the obligation to ensure that its websites, mobile applications and documents are accessible to people with disabilities, offering interfaces that are perceptible, operable, understandable and robust. In addition, they must ensure that electronic documents are accessible, using, for example, alternative text for images, subtitles on videos, and accessible formats for people with visual or hearing disabilities.
Conclusion
The EU Directive 2019/882 establishes a legal framework for the accessibility of products and services in the EU, distinguishing between different types of companies according to their size and annual turnover. While microenterprises are exempt from the strictest obligations, SMEs must comply with requirements adapted to their size and resources, and large companies must ensure full accessibility of their digital platforms and services.
To comply with the law, companies must assess the accessibility of their websites, mobile applications and electronic documents, and make necessary adjustments.
Accessibility not only improves the experience of users with disabilities, but also promotes greater social and economic inclusion, allowing all people to have equal access to the services and products that companies offer.
As the implementation date of the Directive approaches (June 28, 2025), it is crucial that companies, especially those that have not yet taken action, begin to implement accessible solutions to avoid potential sanctions and improve their competitiveness.
