Accessibility becomes mandatory: What the BFSG means for websites from June 28, 2025
Accessibility becomes mandatory: What the BFSG means for websites from June 28, 2025
On June 28, 2025, the German Accessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) comes into force. This law requires many companies in Germany to make their digital offerings — particularly websites — accessible. The aim is to give people with disabilities equal access to digital services.
What does the BFSG mean?
The BFSG transposes EU Directive 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), into German law. It obliges companies to design their digital products and services so that people with disabilities can access and use them.
Who does the law apply to?
The BFSG affects companies that offer products or services to consumers, in particular:
- Online shops and e-commerce platforms
- Banks, insurers and telecommunications providers
- Providers of electronic tickets and booking portals
- Apps and mobile applications
Pure B2B offerings are exempt for now.
What requirements does the BFSG place on websites?
The BFSG requirements are based on the European standard EN 301 549, which itself follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines cover:
- Perceivability: Content must be presented so all users can perceive it (e.g. sufficient contrast, alt text for images).
- Operability: All functions must be usable by everyone (e.g. keyboard navigation).
- Understandability: Information and operation must be understandable (clear language, consistent navigation).
- Robustness: Content must work reliably with different assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers).
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Companies that fail to meet BFSG requirements face:
- Fines of up to 100,000 euros
- Cease-and-desist warnings under unfair competition law
- Orders to discontinue services issued by market surveillance authorities
How can companies make their websites accessible?
To meet BFSG requirements, companies should take the following steps:
- Audit the current website: Check how accessible your website already is.
- Implement WCAG 2.1 guidelines: Adapt your website accordingly, e.g. by:
- Using sufficient color contrast
- Providing alt text for images
- Ensuring full keyboard navigation
- Test accessibility: Use tools like the WAVE Accessibility Checker or WCAG validators to verify your site's accessibility.
- Train your team: Raise awareness in your team and train them accordingly.
- Continuous review: Accessibility is an ongoing process. Regularly check that your website still meets current requirements.
Conclusion
The Accessibility Reinforcement Act presents new challenges for companies, but also offers the opportunity to make digital offerings more inclusive and reach a wider audience. Timely adaptation lets companies avoid legal consequences and improve usability and reach at the same time.
✅ Checklist: Is your website ready for the BFSG?
- Contrast and font sizes: Is all text easy to read?
- Alternative text: Do all images have descriptive alt text?
- Keyboard navigation: Can the site be operated entirely via keyboard?
- Forms: Are all forms correctly labeled and operable?
- Multimedia: Are subtitles available for videos and audio descriptions for audio?
- Compatibility: Does the site work with screen readers and other assistive technologies?
Conclusion
Accessibility is not just a legal obligation — it is a sign of quality and user focus. Companies that make their digital offerings accessible benefit from greater reach and a better user experience for everyone.
👉 Conatec supports you in implementing website accessibility — from audit to rollout. Contact us for an individual consultation.
Note: This blog article is for general information and does not replace legal advice. For specific questions please consult a specialist lawyer or relevant advisory body.