Do you sell products or services through a webshop to consumers in the European Union? If so, your webshop falls in most cases under the European Accessibility Act, formally Directive (EU) 2019/882. The technical requirement that follows from this is EN 301 549, in practice WCAG 2.1 at level AA. This applies not only to the homepage and product pages, but especially to the part where many webshops stumble: the checkout process with shopping cart, address information, shipping options and payment.
There is one important exception. If you are a micro-enterprise — fewer than ten employees and a maximum annual turnover of two million euros — an exemption may apply to you, but only if you meet both conditions at the same time. If you are unsure whether this applies to your business, you can find out in a few questions with a scope check. For the precise limits and definitions, the legal text itself remains the source; it is freely accessible on EUR-Lex.
What makes a webshop different from a regular website
A brochure website with a contact form is one thing; a webshop with an account, shopping cart and checkout process is another. The directive does not look at the type of website by name, but at the functions the site offers. As soon as visitors can place an order, create an account or must log in to use a service, those steps count as part of the service that must be accessible. This is a different approach than with a static website, and it explains why a webshop quickly requires more attention than a few isolated pages. In the knowledge base with explanations for each type of website this is broken down further into situations such as apps and business environments with an account.
The checkout process counts as heavily as the homepage
A common assumption is that an accessible homepage and a few product pages are enough. That is not how the directive is structured: the checkout process, the login screen and the checkout process are part of the core service and thus fall equally under the requirement. A quick scan of a handful of key pages gives a first impression, but typically does not include the shopping cart and payment process. A full scan that does, and that results in a prioritised action list, is the level at which you can determine whether the critical parts of your webshop are covered. What that costs in practice can be found in what the full scan with checkout process costs.
When the exemption does and does not apply
The exemption in the regulation targets micro-enterprises providing services, with the two conditions mentioned: fewer than ten employees and a maximum annual turnover of two million euros. Both conditions must apply at the same time; for example, a company with eight employees but a turnover of three million euros does not automatically fall under this. Whether the sale through your specific webshop falls precisely under that definition of service provision depends on how your business and offering are structured, and that is something on which the legal text or a lawyer can provide more certainty than a general explanation. An overview of questions frequently asked about this exemption can be found at the frequently asked questions about the exemption.
What if you are caught in the middle
Some web shops grow just beyond the threshold of ten employees, or their revenue fluctuates around two million euros per year. In those situations, it is not always immediately clear whether the exemption still applies. A scope check provides initial guidance based on the information you provide yourself, but it does not replace legal advice on your specific situation. If you are uncertain about your own figures and the consequences, the competent market surveillance authority in your country, or a lawyer, is the right point of contact.
What changes if the directive does apply
If your web shop falls under the directive, there is more involved than just the technical aspects. An accessibility statement must be published, you must be able to demonstrate your own assessment, and after any change to the site, accessibility remains something to be tested again. This is not a one-time action but an ongoing process, and this process is exactly where the system behind a scope check and a quick scan can provide further support.
Do you have a webshop and want to know whether and where you stand? The free scope check and quick scan provide a first, concrete answer without an account, and the knowledge base covers next steps by topic.