BFSG: Who is affected?

What the BFSG regulates

The Accessibility Strengthening Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, BFSG) transposes the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882) into German law and has applied since 28 June 2025. Its aim is equal access to certain digital products and services. The technical benchmark is the state of the art: the EN 301 549 standard, which in turn references the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA). The BFSG is Germany's implementation; other EU states transpose the same directive through their own national laws.

Which services are covered

The law names specific services for consumers (B2C). Those most relevant to websites and apps:

• Electronic commerce (e-commerce): online shops and other services through which consumers order goods or services — the broadest affected area.
• Consumer banking services: online banking, consumer credit, payment services, brokerage.
• Passenger transport: elements such as websites, apps, electronic tickets and real-time travel information for air, bus, rail and waterborne transport.
• Telecommunications services: for example providers' websites and customer portals.
• E-books and their reading software.

Which products are covered

Besides services, the BFSG also covers products — usually secondary for a website operator, but for completeness: consumer computers and operating systems, smartphones, routers, e-book readers, internet-enabled televisions, and self-service terminals such as ATMs, ticket and check-in machines and payment terminals.

The microenterprise exemption

A provider of services that qualifies as a microenterprise is generally exempt. Microenterprise means: fewer than 10 employees and at most €2 million annual turnover or annual balance-sheet total. Both conditions must be met. For companies that manufacture, import or distribute products, this blanket exemption does not apply in the same way.

B2B or B2C?

The BFSG targets offerings to consumers. Pure B2B offerings are in principle not covered — but in practice the line is often blurred, because many shops sell to both business and end customers. As soon as consumers can order, electronic commerce is covered in case of doubt.

Since when it applies

The obligations apply to newly placed products and to services since 28 June 2025. For some self-service terminals already in use and certain existing contracts there are limited transition periods (in part until 2030). For websites and e-commerce services, however, the obligation already exists now.

What penalties apply

Compliance is monitored by the market-surveillance authorities of the federal states. They can identify defects, order remediation and, in extreme cases, prohibit the provision of a service. Fines of up to €100,000 are possible. Whether violations can additionally be challenged under competition law is legally debated — the risk exists.

What this means for your website in practice

If you run a covered B2C offering and are not an exempt microenterprise, your website must meet the requirements of EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.2 AA. The first step is to know where you stand. How much a defensible audit costs and what drives the price is covered in “What does an accessibility audit cost?”.