Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG)

The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) aims to make digital offerings and services more accessible to people with disabilities. All online stores selling to B2C customers are affected, except for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and a maximum annual revenue of €2 million. For online store owners, this means ensuring that their digital sales platforms are accessible, so that all individuals, regardless of physical limitations, can use the services provided.

Here are the key points online stores should consider under the BFSG:

• Accessible Websites and Mobile Apps: Online stores must ensure that their websites and apps meet accessibility requirements. This includes, for example, clear and easily visible contrasts, readable fonts, and compatibility with screen readers for visually impaired users.
• Usability and User-Friendliness: The navigation and operation of the store should be as simple and intuitive as possible. The BFSG requires that all users can navigate the store without limitations, including options like keyboard or voice control navigation without needing a mouse.
• Text and Alternative Texts: Alternative texts (alt tags) must be provided for images and graphic elements to describe them for screen reader users. All textual content should be easy to understand, avoiding long and complex sentence structures.
• Multimedia Content: Subtitles or transcripts should be provided for videos and other multimedia content, ensuring that hearing-impaired users have access to all information.
• Testing Accessibility: Online retailers should regularly test their websites for accessibility, ideally using automated tools and involving people with disabilities to gather real user experiences and make adjustments as needed.
• Adherence to WCAG Standards: The "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines" (WCAG) provide technical standards for accessible web design. Compliance with WCAG 2.1 at Level AA is widely recognized and serves as a solid foundation for meeting BFSG requirements.
• Accessible Customer Communication: Communication with customers must also be accessible, meaning that all information, such as order confirmations, product descriptions, and service information, should be provided in a form accessible to all users.
• Obligation to Implement and Penalties for Non-Compliance: From June 2025, the BFSG will be mandatory for certain online providers, and violations may result in penalties. It is advisable to start making necessary adjustments early to meet the requirements in time. For online store owners, the BFSG offers an opportunity to expand their customer base and create inclusive offerings. An accessible design can not only meet legal requirements but also improve usability and the shopping experience for everyone.

Also Good to Know:

• Shopware has announced it will achieve full compliance with the WCAG guidelines by the end of the year.
• The requirements described in the BFSGV ordinance can be found here: BFSGV (especially §12 & §19)
• In general, there are tests available to check your online store for accessibility, although they may have a cost: https://bitvtest.de/tests-und-beratung/bik-bitv-test-web
• PageSpeed Insights already provides some suggestions for improving accessibility, which you can start implementing.

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