07/08/2025 • by Jonas Kellermeyer

Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG): Expanding Digital Inclusion for All

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Since June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Strengthening Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz – BFSG) has been in effect in Germany. For the first time, it requires private companies to make certain products and digital services accessible. The aim of the German BFSG (and its European counterparts) is to ensure equal access to digital offerings for people with disabilities, older individuals, and users who are less tech-savvy.

What does the German BFSG regulate?

The BFSG transposes EU Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) into German law. It applies to products placed on the market from June 28, 2025, as well as to services offered to consumers from that date onward.
Covered products and services include:

  • Digital products: computers, tablets, smartphones, e-book readers, internet-connected televisions, ATMs, and ticket machines.
  • Digital services: websites and apps in e-commerce, online banking, telecommunications services, e-book platforms, and booking systems in passenger transport.

Micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than two million euros are exempt from this law – provided they offer services only.

What does digital accessibility mean?

Digital products and services are considered accessible when they can be used by people with disabilities and/or impairments without undue difficulty and, in principle, without external assistance.
An accessible approach therefore includes the following key aspects:

  • Text alternatives (so-called ALT Tags) for both images and graphics
  • Subtitles and audio descriptions for videos
  • Full keyboard operability of all functions
  • High contrast and adjustable font sizes
  • Compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies

The technical requirements are based on the European standard EN 301 549 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), at least Level AA.

Transition Periods and Exemptions under the German BFSG

If you haven’t taken action yet and are now alarmed to find that the BFSG applies to your business – don’t panic right away: there are transition periods in place for certain existing products and services:

  • Services that were legally provided before June 28, 2025, may continue to be offered until June 27, 2030.
  • Self-service terminals that were put into operation before June 28, 2025, may continue to be used until June 27, 2040.

However, if you operate an online shop or are part of the public sector, now is definitely the time to start working on BFSG compliance!
For the public sector, particular attention should be paid to the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (German BITV 2.0). Technically, this regulation also relies on European Standard EN 301 549 Version 3.2.1 (“Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services”) and defines the specific accessibility requirements for websites, mobile applications, software, and self-service terminals. There are practical quick tests (in German) available that can give you at least a heuristic sense of where action may be needed. For an in-depth analysis, consulting with experts is highly recommended.

Consequences of Non-Compliance with the German BFSG

Some of you might now be wondering: “But what kind of penalties are we really facing if we simply ignore the BFSG?” The short and unanimous answer is:

  • Severe fines and prohibition of the sale of non-compliant products
  • Cease-and-desist letters from competitors or industry associations
  • Damage to your reputation and potential loss of customers to the competition

Market surveillance is the responsibility of the relevant authorities in each federal state of Germany.

Accessibility Action Plan for Businesses

To comply with the requirements of the German BFSG, companies should consider taking the following steps:

  1. Conduct an inventory of existing digital offerings
  2. Carry out an accessibility audit based on EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 Level AA
  3. Develop an action plan to eliminate identified barriers
  4. Train staff and define clear responsibilities
  5. Publish an accessibility statement on the official company website

Comprehensive support is available from professionals who have long been engaged with the topic of accessibility.The BFSG represents an important step toward greater digital inclusion. Businesses that have already made accessibility a core part of their identity not only gain legal security, but also open up to new customer segments and strengthen their brand reputation.

Conclusion on Digital Accessibility and the German BFSG

Accessibility is more than just a tedious obligation – it’s not about restricting or policing anyone. Rather, it presents an opportunity to reach new customers. Especially in an aging society, it’s increasingly important to consider this demographic when shaping the digital communication of your services.

The year 2025 is all about accessibility. Since June 28, the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) has been in effect in Germany, calling for a barrier-free approach to business-critical websites. And that’s actually good news – because it’s about granting every person equal access to web content, regardless of their physical condition. Of course, this might mean some work for you. Want to be on the safe side? At Taikonauten, we’ve built up a wealth of knowledge in this area – and we’re happy to share it with you. In one of our workshops, we’ll walk you through practical tips and tricks for digital accessibility and help you develop creative solutions and workarounds tailored to your specific challenges. You may contact us at any time.

About the author

As a communications expert, Jonas is responsible for the linguistic representation of the Taikonauten, as well as for crafting all R&D-related content with an anticipated public impact. After some time in the academic research landscape, he has set out to broaden his horizons as much as his vocabulary even further.

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