Law & websites · 5 November 2026 · 6 min read
Accessible websites: what Germany's BFSG has required since June 2025
Since 28 June 2025 Germany's Accessibility Strengthening Act applies. Who is affected, which exemption applies to micro-enterprises and what makes a website accessible.
Since 28 June 2025 Germany's Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) has applied. It implements an EU directive and mainly covers digital services through which consumers enter into contracts. Many businesses are now asking: does this apply to me?
Who is affected
- Online shops and other e-commerce services aimed at consumers
- For example booking and ordering flows where customers conclude a contract online
- Other areas such as banking services, passenger transport or e-books
The micro-enterprise exemption
Micro-enterprises providing services are exempt. A micro-enterprise has fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of at most two million euros. A purely informational site without contracts usually doesn't fall under it either. Still, accessibility almost always pays off: more people can use your site, and Google understands it better.
What makes a website accessible
- 01
Perceivable
Sufficient contrast, alt text for images, captions for videos.
- 02
Operable
Everything works with a keyboard, visible focus, no time traps.
- 03
Understandable
Clear language, unambiguous labels, helpful form error messages.
- 04
Robust
Clean code that works with screen readers and other assistive tech.
Common problems
- Light grey text on white
- Buttons with only an icon, no text
- Form fields without labels
- Animations that can't be turned off
- Cookie banners or pop-ups that can't be closed by keyboard
This website is built on these principles: it's keyboard-operable, respects the "reduce motion" setting and is regularly tested for accessibility automatically.
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