BaFG – The Austrian Accessibility Act for Products and Services
The BaFG (Barrierefreiheitsgesetz) is Austria's national law implementing the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Since June 28, 2025, it requires businesses offering products and services to consumers in Austria to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. The accessibility requirements apply to both digital and physical offerings in the course of commercial trade.
The law sets out concrete requirements and criteria that companies must meet in the design, operation and distribution of their products and services. The technical foundation is WCAG 2.1 at conformance level AA as well as the European standard EN 301 549. A regular accessibility check of websites, apps and online services is therefore a legal obligation for affected businesses in Austria – not optional.
The BaFG is part of a Europe-wide coordinated framework: like Germany's BFSG, Austria transposed the EAA into national law with the BaFG. For businesses selling products or providing services in Austria, the law has been fully in effect since June 2025 and is enforced by Austrian market surveillance authorities.
BaFG at a Glance
- In force since: June 28, 2025
- Applies to: Businesses offering products and services to consumers in Austria
- Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA / EN 301 549
- Exemption: Microenterprises providing services (<10 employees and <€2M annual turnover)
- Legal basis: European Accessibility Act (EAA), EU Directive 2019/882
Which Products and Services Fall Under the BaFG?
The BaFG covers a wide range of products and services offered to consumers in Austria. In addition to digital offerings, physical self-service terminals are explicitly included in the accessibility requirements of the law.
- E-commerce services: Online shops and digital retail platforms targeting consumers
- Banking services: Online banking and financial services for consumers
- Self-service terminals: ATMs, ticket vending machines and comparable publicly deployed devices
- E-books and reader apps: Digital books and associated reading applications
- Telephone and communication services: Electronic communications services for end users
Computers, operating systems, smartphones and related apps also fall under the BaFG's accessibility requirements. The determining factor is whether products and services are directed at end consumers in Austria – purely B2B offerings without consumer contact may be exempt in some cases.
Requirements and Criteria: What Must Companies Comply With?
The core accessibility requirements of the BaFG are based on WCAG 2.1 criteria at Level AA. Digital products and services must be designed according to four principles: Perceivability, Operability, Understandability and Robustness. These criteria represent the internationally recognised standard for digital accessibility.
In practice, this means websites and apps must be operable with screen readers, display sufficient colour contrast, provide alternative texts for images and be fully usable via keyboard alone without a mouse. Businesses looking to check whether their online services and products meet the BaFG's requirements should use EN 301 549 as their technical reference framework.
Microenterprises: Who Is Exempt?
The BaFG includes an important exemption for microenterprises. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover below 2 million euros are exempt from the law's obligations when providing services. This exemption does not apply in full to products – even microenterprises are generally subject to the accessibility requirements when placing products on the market.
Additionally, any affected business may in justified individual cases invoke a disproportionate burden argument. Companies that can demonstrate that compliance would involve disproportionately high costs or effort may be permitted limited deviations – but only with prior documentation and substantiation. For all other businesses, the obligations have applied in full since June 2025.
Obligations and Consequences for Violations
Companies subject to the BaFG have specific obligations: they must design their products and services to meet the accessibility requirements, publish an accessibility statement and respond to complaints from users. Compliance is monitored by Austrian market surveillance authorities.
In the event of violations, businesses face administrative fines and regulatory orders to correct or withdraw the non-compliant product or service. As with similar legislation in other EU member states, complaints from competitors and consumer associations can also represent a real risk. Regular accessibility checks of products and online services are therefore essential – both for legal compliance and to manage liability exposure.
SiteCockpit Solution
easyMonitoring: Automated BaFG Compliance Checks
With easyMonitoring, you can automatically check your websites and online services against WCAG 2.1 Level AA – the technical standard required by the BaFG. The tool scans your pages, scores them on a scale from 0–100 and provides concrete hints about accessibility issues with actionable recommendations. This lets you meet the requirements of the Austrian Accessibility Act efficiently, transparently and with full documentation.
Discover easyMonitoring →Frequently Asked Questions about the BaFG
When did the BaFG come into force in Austria?
The Austrian Accessibility Act has been in force since June 28, 2025. From this date, businesses offering products and services in Austria must comply with the BaFG's accessibility requirements. This deadline aligns with the EU-wide application date of the European Accessibility Act.
How can companies verify their BaFG compliance?
A first step is an automated accessibility check of your website and apps. Tools like easyMonitoring test digital services against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and generate a detailed report with specific recommendations. For comprehensive compliance verification, automated checks should be complemented by manual audits conducted by accessibility experts.
Does the BaFG apply to ATMs and ticket vending machines?
Yes. The BaFG explicitly covers self-service terminals including ATMs and ticket vending machines. These products must be designed so that people with disabilities can use them independently – for example through tactile controls, audio output and sufficient colour contrast.
What is the relationship between the BaFG and the EAA?
The BaFG is Austria's national transposition of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), EU Directive 2019/882. All EU member states were required to transpose the EAA into national law by June 2025. The BaFG defines the specifically Austrian regulations, competent authorities and sanctions within this European framework.
Check Your BaFG Compliance Now
Do your products and services meet the accessibility requirements of the Austrian Accessibility Act? With easyMonitoring, you can automatically check your digital offerings against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and receive a detailed report on open obligations and concrete next steps.
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