What does the EAA mean for ecommerce websites?
From 28 June 2025, European Accessibility Act requirements apply to certain services including ecommerce. Online sellers should first determine whether the rules apply to their business and service, then assess technical accessibility risks across the customer journey.
Ecommerce is within scope
The EAA harmonises accessibility requirements for selected products and services in the EU, including ecommerce services. For many providers, accessibility is therefore both a usability and compliance issue.
Automated testing can identify technical signals such as missing labels, unnamed controls, missing image alternatives and potential focus or contrast problems. It is a useful first step, not a legal or WCAG conformance declaration.
- Check whether the EAA applies to your service.
- Test the shopping journey, not just the homepage.
- Use manual review for criteria automation cannot judge reliably.
Microenterprise service exemption
The Directive exempts microenterprises providing services. Whether a business qualifies depends on the legal criteria and its circumstances.
Merqivio therefore reports technical accessibility risks rather than deciding a company’s legal status.
- Accessibility can still improve usability even where an exemption applies.
- Seek specialist legal advice when applicability is uncertain.
FAQ
Does the EAA apply to every online shop?
No. Scope depends on the service and business; the Directive exempts microenterprises providing services.
Does a Merqivio scan prove EAA compliance?
No. It provides technical evidence and risk indicators; full evaluation can require human and legal assessment.
Official sources: European Accessibility Act and W3C WCAG
W3C WCAG 2.2
General information, not legal advice or a formal WCAG conformance statement. Automated checks do not cover every accessibility criterion.
Map your technical accessibility risks first
The free Quick Scan checks up to 5 representative pages. The paid Risk Report scans up to 1,000 publicly discoverable pages in the background and is emailed automatically when complete.