When Did the Accessibility Act Start in Finland?
Accessibility (EAA)The European Accessibility Act, Directive (EU) 2019/882, has applied across the European Union since 28 June 2025, and Finland is no exception. Because it is a Directive, it is transposed into Finnish law and supervised by a Finnish authority, but the date from which consumer-facing e-commerce is expected to be accessible is that EU-wide start of 28 June 2025.
What now applies
From that date, an ordinary online shop selling to consumers is generally expected to meet EN 301 549, which for websites points to WCAG 2.1 at level AA. In practice that means a short list of things a customer with a disability actually experiences.
- Enough contrast between text and background — a ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
- Keyboard navigation through the whole shop, including the checkout.
- Properly labelled checkout form fields for screen readers.
- Alt text on images that carry meaning.
The Finnish angle
A microenterprise providing services — fewer than ten people and turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than two million euro — is exempt from the service duties, though accessibility remains good practice. Finland has two national languages, so consumer-facing text should read clearly in Finnish and, where relevant, Swedish. Enforcement practice can develop over time, so revisit the local detail. Our complete accessibility guide covers the requirements in more depth.
This answer is educational, not legal advice.