Germany: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (accessibility act) applies to products and services
Anmärkning om datumet: Transitional relief: service providers may keep using products already deployed before 2025-06-28 until 2030-06-27, and may continue pre-existing service contracts unchanged until they expire or until 2030-06-27, whichever is earlier; self-service terminals in use before 2025-06-28 may run until the end of their economic life, capped at 15 years after commissioning.
Vad som ändras
The BFSG (Germany's transposition of the European Accessibility Act) has applied since 28 June 2025. It requires many consumer-facing products (e.g. computers, smartphones, e-readers, payment terminals, self-service terminals) and services (e.g. e-commerce, banking, telecoms, transport ticketing, e-books) to meet accessibility requirements. A specific exemption in §3 Abs. 3 BFSG excludes Kleinstunternehmen (micro-enterprises: under 10 staff and either annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding €2m) from the accessibility duties for the SERVICES they provide (this exemption does not extend to putting non-compliant PRODUCTS on the market).
Vem som berörs
Small, medium and large businesses selling in-scope products or providing in-scope services to consumers in Germany; micro-enterprises are exempt only for services, not for products they manufacture or sell.
Storlekar: mikroföretag, litet företag, medelstort företag, stort företag · Branscher: E-handel, Detaljhandel, Finans / försäkring, Transport / logistik, Media / marknadsföring · Gäller om: Vi säljer till konsumenter (B2C); Vi säljer online
Vad du ska göra
Check whether your products or services fall within BFSG's scope (Anlagen 1-3). If you provide services and qualify as a Kleinstunternehmen, document the exemption. Otherwise design/adapt products and digital services (websites, apps, terminals) to meet the accessibility requirements and keep technical documentation for market surveillance.
Sanktion
Fines up to €100,000 for placing non-compliant products on the market, CE-marking violations or offering non-compliant services (§37 Abs. 2 BFSG); up to €10,000 for other listed violations (§37 Abs. 1).
Källor
- gesetze-im-internet.de – BFSG §38 (Übergangsbestimmungen) and §3 (Kleinstunternehmen-Ausnahme) (www.gesetze-im-internet.de)
- gesetze-im-internet.de – BFSG §37 (Bußgeldvorschriften) (www.gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Bundesnetzagentur – Ad-hoc-Gruppe Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (market surveillance) (www.bundesnetzagentur.de)
Senast verifierad 8 september 2026. Endast information, inte juridisk rådgivning.