WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Have I got all of these legal requirements and de facto requirement correct for private sector businesses

for

From: Julian Tenney
Date: Apr 4, 2025 4:08AM

Note that in the UK we have not adopted the EAA directive through legislation, and there is no enforcement agency, so it remains to be seen how the act would actually be enforced.

Julian

From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > on behalf of Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design via WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: 04 April 2025 10:56
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Cc: Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: [WebAIM] Have I got all of these legal requirements and de facto requirement correct for private sector businesses

Hi,

I=92m writing a piece of text I can add to my website and proposals relating to UK and EU requirements. Can I just check I have got this information correct:

A note about UK compliance
The relevant acts in the UK are the Equality Act 2010 and The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Note that privately owned businesses do not fall within requirement of The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

While WCAG 2.2 is not itself a law, it is the de facto standard used to assess compliance. The UK government has adopted WCAG 2.2 AA as the benchmark for public sector accessibility, and it is widely recognised as the standard to follow for all organisations aiming to meet legal accessibility requirements.

The relevant UK Government website page to have a look at is at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meet-the-requirements-of-equality-and-accessibility-regulations

Accessibility Statements
Private sector businesses not legally required to publish an accessibility statement. However, under the Equality Act 2010, businesses must not discriminate against disabled users. A accessibility statement can help demonstrate awareness and a commitment to meeting those duties.

From June 2025: the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The EAA will apply accessibility obligations to many private sector businesses, especially those providing key digital and consumer services across the EU. This includes:

=95 E-commerce websites and apps
=95 Banking services
=95 Transport (ticketing and travel info)
=95 Telecoms
=95 ATMs, ticket machines, check-in terminals
=95 E-book readers and e-publishing
=95 Audiovisual media services
=95 Computer hardware and software

Even non-EU companies will be affected if they sell to EU consumers.

VPAT Templates
A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is not a legal requirement, but it becomes a de facto requirement when selling digital products or services to public sector bodies. It has also become common for large organisations to expect a VPAT to be provided.

I=92d appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Jim


[cid: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]


Multi-award-winning WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Auditing and Accessibility Consultant

Web: https://jimbyrne.co.uk

Jim Byrne is one of the UK=92s most experienced practitioners in the area of accessible digital design.

Jim provided feedback during the development of WCAG 2 (the de facto accessibility guidelines used by governments across the world). He is the author of a number of technical books, training courses and accessibility guides. Jim was a winner of the equal access category of the Global Bangemann Challenge.


This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.