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Accessibility

German Accessibility Act (BFSG)

Germany's BFSG implements European accessibility requirements for specified products and services in national law.

Germany's BFSG implements European accessibility requirements for specified products and services in national law. Implementation should favor native web standards and combine automated checks with keyboard and assistive-technology testing. The concept is closely related to European Accessibility Act and Web Accessibility.

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European Accessibility Act

Web Accessibility

Accessibility Statement

EN 301 549

FAQ

German Accessibility Act (BFSG)

What are typical misconceptions about the BFSG?
A common misconception is that an overlay plugin or a statement is sufficient. Add-on tools do not reliably fix structural barriers in the code, and a statement is no substitute for implementation. Equally mistaken is the expectation that the topic is closed after a single audit.
How does technical preparation for the BFSG begin?
It starts with an inventory: which offerings are affected, and how accessible are they today? An accessibility audit against WCAG produces the list of findings. Design system, components, and editorial processes are corrected next. The legal assessment runs in parallel and is not part of the technical review.
How do the BFSG and the European Accessibility Act differ?
The European Accessibility Act is the EU Directive (EU) 2019/882, while the BFSG is the German law that transposes it. Other member states have their own implementing laws with partly differing details. For providers active in several countries, looking at the directive alone is therefore not enough.
Which technical standard applies under the BFSG?
In practice, EN 301 549 serves as the yardstick, which itself refers to WCAG, usually at level AA. Which version is decisive in a given case depends on the edition of the standard consulted and needs checking. Binding statements on conformity are a matter of legal assessment.
Which websites fall under the BFSG?
Websites and apps through which specified services are provided to consumers are affected, such as online shops. Pure corporate presentations without such offerings are not automatically covered. Exemptions exist for microenterprises regarding services. Classification in a specific case is a legal question.
Since when does the BFSG apply, and what does it regulate?
The BFSG has applied since June 28, 2025, and transposes Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act, into German law. It sets accessibility requirements for specified products and services offered to consumers. For websites, the key question is therefore whether they provide such services.