Accessible website: what EU law requires and why it pays

In short

Since 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882, brought into Italian law by Legislative Decree 82/2022) has required certain digital services for consumers, including e-commerce, to be accessible to people with disabilities. Microenterprises that provide services are exempt. The technical reference for websites is WCAG 2.1 at level AA: following it makes sense for everyone, because an accessible website is easier for all your customers to use.

What an accessible website actually is.

An accessible website can also be used by people who have low vision or are blind, who don’t use a mouse, who are hard of hearing or who struggle with long blocks of text. The international WCAG guidelines, published by the W3C, ask for content that is perceivable, operable, understandable and robust, meaning it also works with assistive technologies such as screen readers.

What European law requires.

Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act, was brought into Italian law by Legislative Decree no. 82 of 27 May 2022. Since 28 June 2025 it has set accessibility requirements for certain products and for these services:

E-commerce: services provided at a distance, through a website or an app, to conclude a contract with a consumer.
Consumer banking services.
E-books and dedicated software.
Electronic communications and services giving access to audiovisual media.
Passenger transport by air, bus, rail and waterway: websites, apps, e-tickets and travel information.

Businesses covered by the rules must also explain, in their general terms and conditions or an equivalent document, how the service meets the accessibility requirements.

Who is exempt and who checks.

Microenterprises that provide services are exempt from the requirements: under the Italian decree, these are businesses with fewer than 10 people and an annual turnover, or annual balance sheet total, within the threshold set by the law. A website that simply presents your business isn’t on the list of services; if your website lets consumers conclude a contract, for example an online purchase, it’s worth checking with a professional whether you’re covered.

For services, the supervisory authority in Italy is AgID, the Agency for Digital Italy: it assesses compliance and handles complaints from consumers who can’t use a service because of a disability. Its Guidelines on the accessibility of services, version 1.0 of 4 March 2026, cite the EN 301 549 standard and WCAG 2.1 as technical references and state that, to be compliant, a service must meet at least the level A and AA criteria.

According to AgID, failing to meet the obligations can lead to administrative fines from €5,000 to €40,000. Beware of so-called “overlays”, the buttons that promise to make a website accessible in one click: the European Commission, cited by AgID, points out that they do not guarantee compliance.

The other legal requirements for a website, from the VAT number to privacy, are summarised in our guide “What a business website must include by law”.

Why it pays off for you too.

More people can choose you: people with low vision, people who only use a keyboard, people reading on their phone in bright sunlight.
A clearer website for everyone: readable text, obvious buttons, forms that are easy to fill in.
A website that’s easier for Google and AI to read: well-ordered headings, alternative text for images and content written directly on the page are the same basics that help them understand you.
You start ahead if one day your business grows or starts selling online.

Five tests you can do yourself.

Use only the Tab key: can you reach menus, buttons and forms, and can you always see where you are?
Zoom text to 200%: can you still read the page, with nothing cut off?
Look at the contrast: no light grey text on white, no words over busy photos.
Check your forms: every field has a label and errors are explained in words, not just with a colour.
Try PageSpeed Insights: its Accessibility section flags some issues, but an automated check is no substitute for testing by a real person.

How we work at Aleryc.

Aleryc’s websites are designed following the international accessibility guidelines (WCAG): readable contrast, alternative text for images, and navigation that also works with a keyboard and with screen readers. An accessible website is easier for everyone. Questions? Write to us (in English, by email or WhatsApp).

Sources.

Sources consulted on 27 October 2026. This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for legal advice: to find out whether your business is covered, speak to a professional.

FAQ

The questions we get asked most.

It depends on what the website does. Since 28 June 2025, the obligation has covered certain consumer services, such as e-commerce, and it doesn’t apply to microenterprises that provide services. A website that only presents your business isn’t among the listed services, but making it accessible is still a choice that pays off.

Under Italy’s Legislative Decree 82/2022, it’s a business with fewer than 10 people and an annual turnover, or annual balance sheet total, within the threshold set by the same law. If you’re unsure about your situation, ask your accountant.

No. Tools such as the Accessibility section of PageSpeed Insights only catch some of the problems. You also need tests done by a person, for example browsing with just the keyboard or with a screen reader.

Write to us

Tell us about your business. We’ll build the rest together.

Write to us in English by email or WhatsApp: we’ll listen, ask you a few questions and tell you honestly what we would do in your place. Video calls and phone calls are in Italian.