Are Irish Microenterprises Exempt From the EAA?

Yes, in defined circumstances. The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) exempts microenterprises providing services from its service obligations, and an online shop is a service for this purpose. Since the EAA is transposed into Irish national law, that exemption carries through in Ireland. The two thresholds To count as an exempt microenterprise you must meet both of these: Fewer than 10 staff, and Annual turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than €2 million. Both conditions have to be satisfied. If you have 10 or more staff, or your turnover exceeds €2 million, the exemption does not apply and your webshop must meet EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 level AA. Worth doing anyway Even where the exemption applies, an accessible shop is good practice: it reaches more customers, reduces the risk if you grow past the thresholds, and reflects the direction of the law. Ireland's framework operates in English and its monitoring draws on established national arrangements, so guidance is readily accessible. For more, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide. This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

Which Standard Must Polish Shops Meet for Accessibility?

A consumer webshop selling in Poland must meet EN 301 549, the European accessibility standard, which for web content aligns with WCAG 2.1 level AA. This flows from the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882), in force since 28 June 2025 and delivered through Poland's national transposition. What WCAG 2.1 AA means in practice The standard translates into a set of concrete, testable things on your storefront and checkout: Colour contrast of at least 4.5:1 for normal text. Keyboard navigation through the whole purchase journey. Labelled checkout forms, each field tied to a clear label. Alt text on images that convey information. National context The obligation is enforced by Poland's designated authorities, and the national framework operates in Polish. The standard itself, though, is the same across the EU. Remember too the microenterprise exemption: a business with fewer than 10 staff and no more than €2 million turnover or balance-sheet total is exempt from the service obligations, provided it meets both thresholds. For the wider framework, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide. This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

What Does Austria's Accessibility Law Require?

Austria's accessibility law is the Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (BaFG), which transposes the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) into national law. Applying since 28 June 2025, it requires consumer-facing e-commerce to be accessible to people with disabilities, measured against EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 level AA. What that means for your shop Meeting the standard comes down to a handful of practical things that let disabled customers browse and buy: Colour contrast of at least 4.5:1 for normal text. Keyboard navigation through the whole purchase journey. Labelled checkout forms, each field tied to a clear label. Alt text on images that carry meaning. Language and exemption The Barrierefreiheitsgesetz and its supervision operate in German, so plan for national terminology and correspondence to be in the language. Note too the microenterprise exemption: a business with fewer than 10 staff and no more than €2 million turnover or balance-sheet total is exempt from the service obligations — but only if it meets both thresholds. For the wider framework, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide. This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

Does the EAA Apply to Belgian Webshops?

In most cases, yes. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) — Directive (EU) 2019/882 — has applied since 28 June 2025 and treats consumer-facing e-commerce as a covered service. If your webshop sells to consumers in Belgium, it is expected to be accessible to people with disabilities, tested against EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 level AA. How Belgium fits in The EAA is an EU directive transposed into national law. Because of Belgium's structure, transposition spans federal and regional legislation, and official information may be in Dutch, French or German depending on the region. The accessibility obligation itself, however, is the same as everywhere else in the EU. When you might be exempt The main carve-out is for microenterprises providing services. You are exempt only if you meet both of these: Fewer than 10 staff, and Annual turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than €2 million. Cross either threshold and the exemption falls away. Even when it applies, an accessible shop is still worth building — it reaches more customers and future-proofs you if you grow. For more, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide. This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

Are Dutch Microenterprises Exempt From the EAA?

Usually, yes — if they meet the size test. The European Accessibility Act, Directive (EU) 2019/882, has applied since 28 June 2025 and exempts service-providing microenterprises from its service obligations. A Dutch webshop that qualifies as a microenterprise is generally outside the EAA's service duties, as transposed into Dutch law. The microenterprise test A microenterprise for these purposes is a business that employs fewer than 10 people and has an annual turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than €2 million. Both limbs must be satisfied. A shop that exceeds either the headcount or the financial threshold is not a microenterprise and cannot rely on the exemption. Fewer than 10 employees? Turnover or balance-sheet total of €2 million or less? Both true — exemption likely applies; either exceeded — obligations apply. Why the exemption is not permanent The exemption is tied to your size, not fixed for the life of the business. A growing Dutch webshop that passes 10 employees or €2 million loses the exemption and must meet the requirements — the standard being EN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 level AA. Because retrofitting accessibility under time pressure is expensive, many small shops choose to build to the standard even while exempt. Accessible design also broadens your market and improves usability for everyone, so the business case rarely rests on the exemption alone. For the detail, see our complete accessibility guide and the accessibility law page. This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

Guide

The EU Accessibility Act in Ireland for Online Shops

By Compliance Editorial Team Updated July 5, 2026 3 min read

Accessibility (EAA)

An online shop selling to consumers in Ireland falls within the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The Act — Directive (EU) 2019/882 — has applied since 28 June 2025 and requires consumer-facing e-commerce to be accessible to people with disabilities. It is transposed into Irish national law and enforced by the authorities Ireland has designated for the purpose.

This guide explains what the EAA requires of an online seller supplying Irish consumers and how the Irish framework fits around it. For the wider picture, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide.

What the EAA requires

The EAA treats a consumer webshop as a covered service that must be accessible. The technical benchmark is EN 301 549, which for websites corresponds to WCAG 2.1 level AA. Meeting those criteria is how an Irish-facing shop demonstrates accessibility.

In everyday terms, the things that decide whether a disabled customer can complete a purchase are:

Colour contrast of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
Keyboard navigation through the entire browse-and-buy journey.
Labelled checkout forms, each field tied to a clear label.
Alt text on meaningful images.

National transposition and monitoring

Ireland has transposed the EAA into national law and put monitoring arrangements in place. Accessibility monitoring in Ireland has an established home in the work of the National Disability Authority (NDA), and the EAA’s supervision draws on that national infrastructure. For a consumer e-commerce service the substantive duty is the EU-wide one — accessibility to EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA — with the Irish text and designated bodies handling oversight and enforcement.

An English-language framework

A practical advantage for many international sellers is that the Irish framework operates in English, so the legislation, guidance and any correspondence are readily accessible without translation. The accessibility obligation is identical to the rest of the EU; only the language of the national administration differs.

The microenterprise exemption

The EAA exempts the smallest service providers. A microenterprise — fewer than 10 staff and turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than €2 million — is outside the service obligations, and an online shop is a service here. Both thresholds must be met; cross either and the exemption no longer applies.

Ireland delivers the EAA through national transposition with monitoring rooted in the NDA’s work — the same EU standard, in an English-language framework.

Enforcement

Enforcement is a national matter carried out by Ireland’s designated authorities, drawing on established monitoring arrangements. They can assess whether a covered service meets the requirements and act where it falls short. The sensible posture for a shop is to treat accessibility as a continuing operational requirement, not a one-off exercise.

A practical checklist for the Irish market

Confirm whether you qualify for the microenterprise exemption (under 10 staff and ≤€2m).
Test your storefront and checkout against EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA.
Fix colour contrast to at least 4.5:1 for text.
Ensure full keyboard operation and label every checkout field.
Add alt text to meaningful images.

If you would like a structured review of how your store performs for disabled customers in Ireland, our PrestaShop compliance audit checks your storefront and checkout against the applicable accessibility criteria.

This article is educational and does not constitute legal advice.