Obligations of Economic Operators.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) creates rules to make products and services more accessible to people with disabilities. To make this happen, the law assigns specific responsibilities to different businesses involved in bringing products and services to consumers.

These responsibilities are called "obligations" - they are legal requirements that businesses must follow. Different types of businesses have different obligations based on their role in the market.

The EAA identifies four main types of businesses (called "economic operators"):

• Manufacturers - Those who make products or have products made for them to sell under their name
• Importers - Those who bring products from outside the EU into the EU market
• Distributors - Those who sell products to consumers but didn't make or import them
• Service providers - Those who provide services covered by the EAA

These obligations are important for several reasons:

• Ensuring accessibility - They make sure that products and services can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities
• Creating clarity - They clearly define who is responsible for which aspects of accessibility
• Protecting consumers - They help ensure that products and services are safe and work as expected
• Creating a level playing field - They make sure all businesses follow the same rules
• Building a more inclusive market - They help create an environment where accessibility becomes standard practice

Without these obligations, it would be unclear who should make products and services accessible, potentially leaving gaps in responsibility that would result in inaccessible experiences for many people.

Each type of business has different responsibilities:

• Manufacturers have the most responsibility because they design and make the products. They need to build accessibility into their products from the start.
• Importers serve as a checkpoint - they need to verify that products from outside the EU meet the accessibility requirements before bringing them into the EU market.
• Distributors need to make sure they only sell products that comply with the accessibility requirements, and they need to handle products carefully so they stay accessible.
• Service providers need to design and deliver their services in an accessible way and maintain that accessibility over time.

The EAA assigns different levels of responsibility based on how much control each business has over the product or service. Those who create products or services have more obligations than those who just distribute them.

While each type of business has specific obligations, there are also responsibilities that everyone shares:

• Responding to problems - All businesses must take action if they find out a product or service doesn't meet accessibility requirements
• Working with authorities - Everyone must cooperate with government officials who are checking for compliance
• Keeping records - All businesses need to track which products they've received and sold to help trace problems if they arise
• Being honest about accessibility - No one should make false claims about the accessibility of their products or services

This shared responsibility helps create a system where everyone in the supply chain plays a part in ensuring accessibility. If one business fails to meet their obligations, others may catch and correct the issue before it affects consumers.

For the EAA to be effective, there needs to be a way to check that businesses are following their obligations. This is handled through:

• Market surveillance - Government authorities monitor products and services in the market to make sure they meet accessibility requirements
• Documentation checks - Authorities can request documentation that proves products and services meet the requirements
• Penalties - If businesses don't follow their obligations, they may face consequences determined by each EU country
• Corrective actions - Businesses that don't comply may be required to fix their products or services, or in some cases, remove them from the market

This enforcement system helps ensure that the obligations aren't just suggestions but requirements that businesses take seriously. It helps turn the EAA from words on paper into real improvements in accessibility.

The sections below provide detailed information about the specific obligations for each type of economic operator. These pages explain exactly what each business needs to do to comply with the EAA:

• Manufacturer Obligations - What companies that create products must do
• Importer Obligations - Requirements for businesses bringing products into the EU
• Distributor Obligations - Responsibilities for businesses selling products to consumers
• Service Provider Obligations - What companies offering services need to do

By understanding these obligations, businesses can ensure they're complying with the EAA and contributing to a more accessible digital world.