The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has landed: are you compliant?

The European Accessibility Act has now officially come into effect, introducing important changes for businesses that sell products or services within the European Union. If you are a brand or retailer operating in the EU – whether you are based in the region or not – this new law could impact how you manage your digital content. The goal of the act is to ensure that products and services are accessible to people with disabilities, helping create a more inclusive digital world. It applies to a wide range of areas, including TVs, smartphones, computers, gaming consoles, websites, and mobile apps. Failing to meet these new requirements can result in serious consequences, such as fines or other penalties, especially for companies working with the public sector.

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What is the EAA and why is it important?

The EAA is a key piece of legislation that aims to make everyday technology easier to use for disabled and older people across Europe. Importantly, companies outside the EU, including those in the UK, must comply with the EAA if they provide goods or services to EU customers. So, if your product content is live on EU websites, this law matters to you.

The focus is on digital accessibility - making sure websites, mobile apps, and other online tools can be used by everyone. That includes people who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies. Simple improvements - like avoiding text inside images, ensuring readable font sizes, and following consistent navigation structures – can make a big difference.

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Scope of the EAA: who is affected?

The EAA targets the private sector, specifically companies with more than ten employees and an annual turnover above €2 million. Smaller businesses, or micro-enterprises, may have fewer requirements, but they are not completely exempt. It is still important for all businesses to understand and follow accessibility best practices wherever possible.

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How Flixmedia is supporting EAA compliance

At Flixmedia, we take accessibility compliance incredibly seriously. We are committed to ensuring that our syndicated content is usable and accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities.

As part of this commitment, we have been actively working on enhancing the accessibility of our partners' content since March 2023. On aggregate, we estimate that 80% of the content we syndicate is compliant with recognised accessibility stands, moving to 90% as we include the migration of older XML-based content, which will take place throughout the year.

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‍What you can do to stay compliant

As the person responsible for your organisation's content, your role is also crucial in ensuring product pages meet accessibility standards. Please follow our accessibility guidelines (available for partners' working with Flixmedia) - this includes avoid placing text inside images, as this makes content difficult to read for users who rely on screen readers or other tools.

Please note for partners' currently working with Flixmedia: This compliance estimate does not cover manually built pages created before March 2023. If your organisation is currently using manual content from before this date, we offer a dedicated accessibility migration service. If you would like a quote or want to learn more about how we can support your accessibility goals, get in touch by clicking the link below or getting in touch with your account representative.

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Final thoughts

The introduction of the EAA marks a major step forward in building a more inclusive digital world. For brands and retailers operating in the EU market, ensuring compliance is not just about avoiding penalties – it is about meeting the needs of a broader audience and demonstrating a commitment to accessibility and equality.

At Flixmedia, we are here to help you navigate these changes with confidence. By working together and following accessibility best practices, we can ensure that your product pages are not only compliant but also inclusive and user-friendly for all. If you have any questions or would like support with your content, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can ensure accessibility is prioritised.