Introduction.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an important law that makes products and services accessible in the European market. It removes barriers created by different rules in EU countries and improves access for people with disabilities.

The official name is Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and Council. It creates a system that ensures accessible products and services across the EU market. This law makes a big change in how accessibility works in the European Union.

The EAA is not just about following rules. It's a chance to create products and services that work better for everyone, especially the 87 million people with disabilities in the EU.

This guide gives a complete and practical explanation of the European Accessibility Act. We cover:

• Main requirements and scope of the EAA, including which products and services must follow the rules.
• Key definitions and concepts that are important to understand the law.
• Specific duties for different business roles (manufacturers, importers, distributors, service providers).
• How to check compliance and how to document that you follow the rules.
• Exceptions, including when changes would be too costly or change the product too much.
• Timeline for following the rules and key dates for compliance.
• Real examples to show how these requirements work in actual situations.
• How the EAA connects to other laws such as the Web Accessibility Directive.

Each section uses plain language and focuses on practical use rather than legal details.

While this guide covers a lot, it does have some limits:

• Legal advice — We try to be accurate, but this guide is not legal advice and should not replace talking with qualified legal experts.
• Country-specific details — We focus on the EU-wide law rather than how individual countries have put it into their national laws.
• Detailed technical standards — We mention relevant standards, but don't provide full technical details.
• Other accessibility laws — This guide focuses on the EAA rather than other accessibility rules (though we note important connections).
• How to make technical solutions — We explain what needs to be accessible but don't give detailed guidance on how to build technical solutions.

For these areas, we suggest looking at specialized resources, technical documents, or talking to professional advisors.

This guide is flexible. You can read it from start to finish or look at specific sections as needed:

• Introduction and Purpose — Start here to understand why the EAA matters.
• Scope and Requirements — These sections help you figure out if and how the EAA applies to your products or services.
• Obligations chapters — Find the specific section that matches your role in the supply chain.
• Compliance sections — Learn about the practical steps to show and document that you follow the rules.
• Examples — Look at these for specific details and real-world applications.

Use the table of contents, section links, and chapter navigation to quickly find the information that matters most to you.

This guide is written for many different people involved in making products and services accessible:

• Business leaders and decision-makers who need to understand what the EAA means for their organizations.
• Legal and compliance teams working to make sure their organizations follow the rules.
• Product managers and designers who need to build accessibility into their products.
• Developers and engineers implementing technical accessibility solutions.
• UX and accessibility specialists guiding organizations toward better accessibility practices.
• Procurement professionals who need to check if products they buy follow the rules.

This guide is also useful for anyone who wants to learn about how the EU is making digital products and services more accessible for everyone.