Accessibility Policy: What You Must Know Before 28 June 2025

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes effect on June 28, 2025. This regulation will require all e-commerce businesses serving EU customers to meet digital accessibility standards. Here is what you need to know as a Shopify merchant.

Why It Matters for Merchants

The EAA is one of the most significant accessibility regulations to date. Unlike previous guidelines, it carries enforceable penalties and applies broadly to any business that sells products or services to customers in the European Union -- regardless of where the business is physically located.

If your Shopify store has EU customers, this regulation applies to you.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• Financial penalties -- EU member states will set their own fine structures, but penalties are expected to be substantial.
• Market access restrictions -- Non-compliant digital products and services may be removed from the EU market.
• Legal liability -- Customers and advocacy groups may take legal action against businesses that fail to provide accessible services.
• Reputational damage -- Non-compliance signals a lack of commitment to inclusivity, which can erode customer trust.

What the EAA Requires

• Websites must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards (referenced through EN 301 549).
• All interactive elements must be operable via keyboard.
• Content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (the four WCAG principles).
• Accessibility features must be available without requiring additional software or plugins from the user.

How Avada Accessibility Helps

The Avada Accessibility app provides a comprehensive solution to help your store meet EAA requirements:

• Accessibility widget -- Gives visitors tools to adjust contrast, text size, spacing, fonts, and more.
• Ready-made profiles -- Pre-configured accessibility profiles for motor, vision, epilepsy, cognitive, ADHD, and color blindness needs.
• Accessibility scanner -- Scans your store for WCAG compliance issues and provides actionable reports.
• Accessibility statement -- Generates and maintains an accessibility statement for your store.
• Ongoing monitoring -- Schedule regular scans to ensure continued compliance.