BaFG Austria – Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services
Austria's Accessibility Act (BaFG) has been in force since 28 June 2025. It requires companies to make their products and services accessible to all users – implementing the European directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), into Austrian law.
The Key Facts at a Glance
BaFG Austria at a Glance
The BaFG sets binding accessibility requirements for certain B2C products and services. These four key points summarize what companies in Austria need to know now.
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In force since 28 June 2025 – accessibility requirements are binding
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Applies to products and services offered after 28 June 2025
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Microenterprises providing services are exempt
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Violations: administrative fines of up to €80,000
BaFG in force in Austria since 28 June 2025
Covers B2C products and services
Market surveillance by the Sozialministeriumservice
Check accessibility with easyMonitoring
What Is the BaFG and How Did It Come About?
Austria's Accessibility Act (BaFG) – officially the act on accessibility requirements for products and services – was published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette on 19 July 2023 (BGBl. I Nr. 76/2023) and has been fully applicable since 28 June 2025. The law implements EU Directive 2019/882 – the European Accessibility Act (EAA) – into Austrian law and establishes uniform, binding accessibility requirements across the EU.
The BaFG's goal is to make it easier for people with disabilities to live independently and to give them equal access to products and services. At the same time, implementing uniform accessibility requirements supports harmonization of the EU single market: companies operating across multiple EU member states benefit from clear, cross-border standards.
The accessibility requirements primarily target digital offerings: websites, apps, applications, and online services for consumers must be designed so that all users can use them regardless of physical or cognitive limitations. In the European context, WCAG 2.1 serves as the technical basis for digital content, setting requirements for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust content.
These Products and Services Must Be Accessible
The BaFG specifically names which products and services are covered by its requirements. The focus is on digital offerings for consumers.
Digital Devices
Computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, e-readers, and comparable consumer hardware must be accessible – including their operating systems and content.
Apps and Digital Services
Mobile apps, messenger services, voice and video calling, and streaming services are covered by the BaFG's accessibility requirements. Content, user interfaces, and applications must be accessible online for all users.
E-Commerce & Online Retail
Online shops and digital service offerings for consumers must meet the BaFG's accessibility requirements. This applies to websites, digital booking flows, and other B2C online offerings.
Terminals & Banking Services
ATMs, payment terminals, and ticket machines fall under the BaFG, as do banking services for consumers – including e-banking platforms, banking apps, and related websites.
Who Is Affected by the BaFG?
The BaFG applies to all private economic operators offering the named products and services in Austria. Unlike Germany's BFSG, the BaFG has no general revenue threshold – whether a company is covered depends on whether its products or services fall within the law's scope.
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Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of the named products are covered – regardless of company size or headcount
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Providers of the named services to consumers (B2C) must meet accessibility requirements
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Online retailers are directly covered through the obligation to provide accessible content and applications
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Operators of websites through which services are offered must meet the requirements – even if the core business is offline
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Compliance is monitored by the Sozialministeriumservice as the market surveillance authority
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Consumers can report inaccessible offerings to the authority, which then initiates action
Exemptions & Transition Periods
Microenterprises, Disproportionate Burden, and Transition Periods
The BaFG includes targeted exemptions so smaller market participants aren't disproportionately burdened, along with transition periods for products and service contracts already in use. These exemptions are clearly defined and must be documented if challenged.
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Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and annual revenue or balance sheet total of no more than €2 million are exempt from the BaFG's service obligations
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This exemption does not apply to product manufacturers – it covers service providers only
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Disproportionate burden: companies can suspend individual requirements if implementation would fundamentally change the product or impose a disproportionate financial burden – evidence and documentation are required
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Transition period: services may continue to be provided until 28 June 2030 using products that were lawfully in use before 28 June 2025
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Existing service contracts: contracts concluded before 28 June 2025 may continue unchanged until they expire, but for no more than five years
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New contracts and offerings must fully meet the requirements since 28 June 2025 – the extension only applies to existing consumer contract relationships
Penalties for Non-Compliance – What Happens If You Violate the BaFG?
Compliance with BaFG requirements is actively monitored by the Sozialministeriumservice as the central market surveillance authority. The authority checks whether companies are meeting their obligations as part of proactive market surveillance. Consumers can also report products and services that fail to meet accessibility requirements directly to the authority.
Companies that violate the BaFG risk administrative fines of up to €80,000. Lower maximum fines apply to small and medium-sized enterprises and microenterprises. Depending on the severity of the violation, the authority can order additional measures: it can have products withdrawn from the market or prohibit services. Beyond financial penalties, companies risk significant reputational damage from non-compliance.
The most reliable way to prevent violations is to regularly check your own online offerings for barriers. easyMonitoring continuously scans websites and digital applications and shows exactly where action is needed – so companies can act proactively before the market surveillance authority gets involved.
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Check Now Whether Your Digital Offerings Meet the BaFG's Requirements
BaFG, BFSG, and BehiG – Accessibility Across Europe
Austria's BaFG doesn't stand alone – it's part of EU-wide harmonization. Every EU member state was required to transpose the European Accessibility Act (EAA) into national law by 28 June 2025. Companies operating across borders need to know the relevant national implementing laws.
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BaFG (Austria): in force since 28 June 2025, implements the EAA, administrative fines up to €80,000, enforced by the Sozialministeriumservice
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BFSG (Germany): in force since 28 June 2025, also based on the EAA, with a threshold for covered companies (10+ employees or €2M+ annual revenue)
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BehiG (Switzerland): independent of the EAA, its own national regulation with more extensive requirements – more on the BehiG
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EU-wide uniform accessibility requirements: companies operating in multiple EU countries meet the standard for all member states with one compliant implementation
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Technical basis: the harmonized EU standard EN 301 549 sets out the requirements in detail and references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the minimum benchmark for digital content
Frequently Asked Questions About the BaFG (Austria)
The BaFG specifically names: digital devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, smart TVs), self-service terminals (ATMs, payment terminals, ticket machines), electronic communications services, apps and messenger services, banking services for consumers, websites and e-ticketing for passenger transport services, and e-commerce services. The focus is on digital online offerings and services for consumers.
Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and annual revenue or balance sheet total of no more than €2 million are exempt from the BaFG's service obligations. This exemption does not apply to product manufacturers. In addition, any company can be exempted from individual requirements if compliance would fundamentally change the product or impose a disproportionate burden – this must be documented and evidenced.
Violations of the BaFG can result in administrative fines of up to €80,000. Lower maximum fines apply to small and medium-sized enterprises and microenterprises. The Sozialministeriumservice, as the market surveillance authority, can also order additional measures: products can be withdrawn from the market, and services can be prohibited. Consumers can report violations directly to the authority.
Both laws implement the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and have been in force since 28 June 2025. The key difference lies in the threshold for covered companies: Germany's BFSG applies to companies with at least 10 employees or at least €2 million in annual revenue. Austria's BaFG has no such general company-size threshold – it applies to all economic operators offering the named products or services, regardless of size or revenue. Only microenterprises providing services are exempt.