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What Belgian Businesses Need to Know About the European Accessibility Act

This article explains how the European Accessibility Act affects Belgian businesses, highlighting scope, practical compliance steps, common mistakes and a 90-day action checklist. It gives concrete priorities: inventory, audit, remediation, procurement updates and documentation to prepare for national enforcement.

If your company sells goods or services in Belgium, the European Accessibility Act in Belgium affects product design, e-commerce, customer support and procurement. This article summarises what the Act covers, how it differs from existing EU rules, and practical steps Belgian businesses should take now.

Quick facts you can trust

The European Accessibility Act is an EU law (Directive (EU) 2019/882) that sets mandatory accessibility requirements for specific products and services. The EU set a transposition deadline for member states and a later date for the rules to start applying across the single market. Member states had to adopt national implementing measures. Businesses must check Belgian rules for exact dates and enforcement details.

How the Act differs from the Web Accessibility Directive

Many people confuse the two. The Web Accessibility Directive (2016) covers public sector websites and mobile apps. The European Accessibility Act covers a broader set of goods and private services sold on the market. Both aim to improve access for people with disabilities, but they apply to different actors and product types.

Which products and services the Act targets (examples)

The directive places requirements on a set of goods and services frequently used by people with disabilities. Examples commonly referenced by regulators include:

  • consumer electronics such as computers and smartphones
  • self-service terminals and ticketing machines
  • e-commerce and online marketplaces
  • digital content such as e-books and some audiovisual services
  • banking services and ATMs

Regulators publish exact lists and technical specifications. If you supply or integrate any of these, treat them as in-scope until national guidance clarifies otherwise.

Who in Belgium must act

Obligations fall on economic operators: manufacturers, importers, distributors and service providers who place covered products or services on the Belgian market or offer them to Belgian users. That includes local sellers, EU-based suppliers that sell into Belgium, and multinational providers with Belgian operations.

What compliance usually requires

Authorities and technical guidance commonly reference existing accessibility standards. Belgian businesses should plan for:

  • technical conformance checks against recognised standards such as WCAG (commonly WCAG 2.1 Level AA) and EN 301 549 where relevant
  • product and service documentation showing how accessibility requirements were met
  • manual and automated testing, including testing with people with disabilities
  • procurement clauses and supplier contracts that require accessibility
  • clear user-support and complaint handling procedures

Common mistakes Belgian businesses make

  • Assuming only public bodies must comply. The Act covers private operators for specific products and services.
  • Testing only home pages or the main app screen. Accessibility must cover the full user journey: checkout, PDFs, emails and notifications.
  • Relying solely on automated tools. Automated audits find many issues but miss real-world usability problems.
  • Missing third-party components. Widgets, payment plugins and embedded players can introduce non-compliance.
  • No documentation. Regulators expect records that show how you tested and fixed accessibility faults.

Practical compliance checklist for Belgian teams

  1. Inventory: List products, services, digital assets and physical devices offered in Belgium. Include third-party components.
  2. Gap audit: Run automated and manual tests against recognised criteria. Include user testing with people with disabilities.
  3. Priority fixes: Triage issues by user impact and legal risk. Fix high-impact problems first: navigation, forms, checkout, PDF accessibility and media captions.
  4. Procurement: Add accessibility clauses to contracts and tenders. Require suppliers to certify or document accessibility work.
  5. Document: Keep technical files, test reports and remediation records that show your compliance effort.
  6. Train: Give product, design and support teams practical training on accessible patterns and testing methods.
  7. Support: Publish a clear contact point for accessibility feedback. Log and address complaints promptly.

Real-world examples to check first

Start where users encounter friction and where legal risk is highest. Typical places to test first:

  • checkout and payment flows
  • PDF invoices and downloadable product manuals
  • mobile app navigation and forms
  • self-service kiosks and ticket machines in physical outlets
  • customer service phone and chat channels

Preparing for enforcement in Belgium

Member states must set enforcement and penalties. In Belgium, responsibilities can be split across federal and regional authorities. Expect oversight from consumer protection and anti-discrimination bodies. Practical next steps:

  • identify the national authority that will enforce accessibility rules in your sector
  • ask legal counsel for advice on Belgian implementing measures and penalties
  • keep documentation of all remediation steps and user tests

How much time and budget to plan for

Costs depend on product complexity and current maturity. Small fixes can take days. Large platforms may need months and cross-team effort. Budget for audits, developer time, third-party remediation, user testing and staff training. Treat accessibility investment as ongoing, not one-off.

Governance: who inside your company should lead

Accessibility works best when owned by a cross-functional lead. Typical models:

  • a senior product manager as sponsor
  • a technical lead to run conformance testing
  • legal or compliance to track Belgian rules and record keeping
  • customer support to handle accessibility reports

Next steps checklist (first 90 days)

  1. complete an asset inventory that lists in-scope items for Belgium
  2. commission or run a gap audit using automated and manual checks
  3. publish an internal remediation roadmap with priorities and owners
  4. update procurement templates to require accessibility deliverables
  5. set a contact and process for accessibility complaints

Standards and guidance to consider

Use internationally recognised standards when you audit and report. Common references are WCAG for web content and EN 301 549 for ICT accessibility. Confirm with Belgian authorities which versions and levels they expect to be met.

Final practical advice

Start with an honest inventory and a short audit. Fix what stops users from completing key tasks. Document everything you do. If you sell products or services in Belgium, treat the European Accessibility Act as an operational requirement: plan, test with real users and build accessibility into procurement and product roadmaps.

Action now: run a quick inventory, commission a gap audit and add accessibility clauses to your next supplier contract.