From 28 June 2025, the Barrier-Free Access Act (BFSG) will require many companies in Germany to make their digital services accessible. The aim is to ensure equality for people with disabilities in the digital space, in line with EU Directive 2019/882.
Who is affected?
- Online shops, even if the products are not accessible
- Websites with contract conclusion options (e.g. travel bookings, voucher sales)
- Banks, telecommunications, transport service providers
- Digital services on request that lead to the conclusion of a contract
Please note: Exception: Micro-enterprises (<10 employees or <€2 million turnover) are only required to provide evidence upon request – not automatically.
What does ‘accessible’ mean?
Accessibility means that all users – including those with visual, hearing or motor impairments – can use your website. The relevant standards are WCAG 2.1, where G stands for Guidelines, Level AA, and EN 301 549, an EU standard for digital accessibility. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the legal minimum standard for accessible websites. Examples: High-contrast text (e.g. black on white), images with alternative text, videos with subtitles, keyboard navigation instead of mouse navigation, labelled form fields. The aim is to make digital content accessible to everyone, including those with visual, hearing or motor impairments.
Important technical requirements
- Texts must be easy to read: contrast, scalable font sizes
- Alternative text for images
- Subtitles for videos
- Keyboard accessibility of all functions
- Compatibility with screen readers and assistance systems
Opportunities and Risks
The BFSG not only presents risks but also opportunities for marketing and sales. That is why we will briefly outline the opportunities here before moving on to the risks.
Opportunities
- Better UX for everyone means better websites.
- SEO – if you follow the guidelines, this will be viewed positively by Google and other search engines.
- Positive image
- Access for 10% of the population with recognised severe disabilities.
Risks
- Warnings from competitors or associations
- Fines of up to £100,000 for systematic violations
- Sales bans if websites are deemed non-compliant with the law
- Exclusion from public tenders, as accessibility is enshrined in many award criteria
- Damage to image, especially for social or public institutions
Our Support
The North IT Group supports you in implementing the BFSG with expert advice on legal and technical requirements. We carry out audits consisting of automated and manual analysis and prepare a detailed report with specific recommendations for action. Implementation can, but does not have to, be carried out by our team. Further information can be found at: https://bfsg-gesetz.de
