Does the European Accessibility Act apply for Business to Business organisations?

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The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is, for the most part, clear-cut in terms of who and what it applies to. But when it comes to B2B organisations, the waters get a bit murky. With so much conflicting information online, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. So, the burning question remains: does the EAA apply to B2B businesses or not? The answer, as always, depends. Let’s get into it.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive that was introduced in 2019 by the European Union, affecting all member states. The general idea behind the EAA was to improve accessibility for people with disabilities by mandating that all products and services traded within the EU be made accessible to an acceptable standard.

This not only applies to physical products, services, and facilities, but digital ones too. Websites, ecommerce stores, online banking, software tools, and online payment systems all fall under the EAA’s remit.

As a directive, the EAA is very different from most accessibility regulations. While it sets broad rules and an overarching aim, a directive requires national governments to integrate it into their own legal systems and enforce it appropriately. The EU has given member states until June 2025 to do so.

Often, governments will adapt existing national regulations so that they better align with the EAA’s requirements. For digital accessibility, however, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are most commonly adopted.

Free EAA Compliance Audit of your Website

Detecting EAA Compliance issues has never been easier than it is now. At Recite Me we offer a free audit of your websites homepage. This will identify and highlight any non-compliance on your website as it relates to the European Accessibility Act and WCAG. Followed by recommendations on how to implement the necessary changes to improve your websites accessibility score and standing.

How does the European Accessibility Act impact B2B organisations?

The European Accessibility Act does not directly apply to B2B or employee-facing products and services. Instead, EAA primarily targets products and services that are offered to consumers. However, there is often overlap between the two, so even if your organisation is focused on B2B you may still need to fall in line with EAA compliance standards.

Examples include if a B2B company is:

Supplying products or services that will ultimately be used in consumer-facing contexts (e.g., selling software or devices to retailers), the EAA requirements may indirectly apply.
Providing digital tools or infrastructure (like websites, mobile apps, or payment terminals) that support consumer-facing businesses, these tools may need to comply with the accessibility requirements.

If you are unsure about the implications the EAA could have on your B2B business, you can contact us for additional advice.

Furthermore, it is also important to note that the EAA does not apply to microenterprises. These are small businesses with an annual turnover of less than €2 million and fewer than 10 employees.

Why should B2B businesses become EAA compliant?

While understanding your compliance requirements is important, legal obligations are just one aspect of the bigger picture. Even if your business is not required to comply with the EAA, it probably should. Not only is it the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but the long-term benefits are unparalleled. Here’s what the EAA compliance can do for you.

Expand your customer base

By making your digital tools and services accessible, you increase the potential number of businesses that can work with you. Many companies now prioritise accessibility when choosing vendors, so being compliant makes you a more attractive partner. Imagine a large corporation with strict accessibility policies, they are more likely to choose an accessible SaaS provider over one that isn’t compliant.

Improve user experience

Accessibility improvements don’t discriminate; their benefits can be felt by all users, not only those with disabilities. For example, clearer navigation, better contrast, and voice control functionality are all accessibility enhancements which make your platform more intuitive. Consider how voice-to-text technology, originally designed for accessibility, is now widely used in products like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa.

Strengthen your reputation

In today’s socially conscious world, businesses are expected to be inclusive. If your website, software, or services exclude people with disabilities, it could harm your reputation and credibility. Inclusive businesses are often viewed as more ethical and forward-thinking, which can improve brand loyalty and trust among clients and stakeholders.

Future-proof your business

Regulations evolve, and accessibility standards are likely to become stricter. By prioritising accessibility now, you’re preparing for future requirements and avoiding rushed compliance efforts later. Think of it as an investment, staying ahead of the curve now can save your business from costly overhauls in the future.

What are some of the EAA requirements for B2B organisations?

So, you’re convinced. Whether by choice or legal obligation, you’ve decided that your B2B business needs to comply with EAA requirements. But what exactly does compliance entail? Let’s find out.

Accessible websites and digital services

Under the EAA, all digital platforms including websites, mobile apps, and software must adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Among other things, this involves providing structured navigation, captions for videos, responsive web design, and appropriate colour contrast.

Accessible customer support

EAA compliance requires that your support channels, whether live chat, email, or phone services, are made accessible. This could mean offering text-based support for individuals with hearing impairments or ensuring chatbot responses are readable by screen readers. Either way, providing alternative communication methods demonstrates commitment to inclusivity.

Compatibility with assistive technologies

Assistive technologies, such as screen readers, help users with impairments carry out basic website functions. This means that, as part of the EAA’s requirements, all websites and digital platforms must be compatible with assistive technologies. Again, this involves implementing WCAG best practices, such as providing alt text for images and ensuring a logical tab order for seamless keyboard navigation.

Accessible documentation and PDFs

EAA compliance goes beyond just websites. Any written documentation, such as user manuals, contracts, and reports, need to be available in accessible formats. This includes using structured PDFs with tags, ensuring proper colour contrast, and making text resizable. Businesses producing content in inaccessible formats not only risk a compliance breach, but could end up excluding a significant portion of their audience.

Download your free EAA Compliance Checklist

Want to make sure your website is compliant with the European Accessibility Act? Then get started today with our EAA checklist. This document details all of the important steps you need to take to ensure your website is EAA compliant before the deadline. Work through each step to avoid the negative consequences of being non-compliant.

Steps to take for B2B European Accessibility Act compliance

With the June 2025 deadline fast approaching, now is the time to begin taking steps towards compliance. We know that achieving compliance can seem daunting from the outside looking in, which is why we’ve broken the process down into four bite-size chunks to get you underway.

1. Conduct an accessibility audit

Start by evaluating your current accessibility status. Use automated tools like an accessibility checker to efficiently identify areas that need improvement. An audit will reveal major WCAG failures such as missing alt text, poor colour contrast, and inaccessible forms.

2. Implement changes according to WCAG 2.1

Once you’ve identified the problem areas, you can start working on fixes, using WCAG 2.1 Level AA as your framework. For example, if your audit revealed that your site has low-contrast elements, find the relevant WCAG guidance on this and implement it.

3. Run regular accessibility tests to maintain compliance

At this point, your website, document, or digital platform should now be EAA compliant. However, this doesn’t last forever; regulations evolve over time, and with each website design change comes the risk of new EAA breaches being introduced. Therefore, routine tests should be conducted, especially after website updates or regulatory changes to ensure ongoing compliance.

4. Employee training

Accessibility should be a company-wide effort. EAA training for accessibility best practices helps create a culture of inclusivity and ensures that compliance is sustained over time. Developers, designers, and content creators should be educated on how to integrate accessibility into their daily workflows.

Are the rules for EAA compliance the same in all EU countries?

As previously mentioned, the EAA is a European directive, so although it sets a unified framework for accessibility across the EU, it is certainly not the only law B2B organisations must consider. In fact, each member state has its own national regulations and policies that may add additional requirements for accessibility. The French regulation ‘Loi pour une République numérique’, for example, mandates the publication of annual accessibility reports for public sector websites.

The point is these local laws are designed to align with broader EU directives, but can vary in scope and enforcement. Some countries may have stricter regulations regarding web accessibility or the specific needs of people with disabilities. As a result, B2B businesses operating in multiple EU countries must navigate both the EAA and these national regulations to ensure full compliance.

Need more help becoming EAA compliant?

The following resources are packed full of actionable tips and expert advice for making your digital content compliant with the European Accessibility Act: