The BFSG explained
The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) of 16 July 2021 implements Directive (EU) 2019/882 in German law. Here are the key points for website operators, each with its section of the law.
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From when and for whom?
The law applies to products placed on the market after 28 June 2025 and to services provided to consumers after 28 June 2025 (§ 1 (2) and (3) BFSG). Services include telecommunication services, consumer banking services, e-books and e-commerce services, among others.
Exemption for microenterprises
Microenterprises that provide services are exempt from the requirements (§ 3 (3) BFSG). A microenterprise employs fewer than ten people and has an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total of at most EUR 2 million (§ 2 no. 17 BFSG).
Transition periods
Service providers may keep using products they lawfully used before 28 June 2025 until 27 June 2030. Service contracts concluded before 28 June 2025 may continue unchanged until they expire, but no longer than 27 June 2030 (§ 38 (1) BFSG).
Fines
Offering or providing a service that does not meet the requirements is an administrative offence. § 37 (2) BFSG sets a fine of up to EUR 100,000 for this, and up to EUR 10,000 for other violations such as missing information.
What you can do now
First check whether your offer falls under the law. Then use an audit to find the accessibility issues on your website and fix them in the code. CheckEAA helps with the second step. For the legal assessment, please talk to a lawyer.
Sources
- Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- § 1 BFSG (Anwendungsbereich) (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- § 2 BFSG (Begriffsbestimmungen) (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- § 3 BFSG (Barrierefreiheitsanforderungen) (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- § 37 BFSG (Bußgeldvorschriften) (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- § 38 BFSG (Übergangsbestimmungen) (retrieved 4 November 2026)
- Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act), EUR-Lex (retrieved 4 November 2026)
CheckEAA is an automated audit tool and does not provide legal advice.