What is the BFSG?
The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) is the German law implementing Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act. The detailed technical requirements are set out in an ordinance, the Verordnung zum Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSGV).
Scope (§ 1 BFSG)
The BFSG applies to listed products placed on the market after 28 June 2025 and to listed services provided to consumers after 28 June 2025, including telecommunications services, elements of passenger transport services, consumer banking services, e-books and services in electronic commerce (“Dienstleistungen im elektronischen Geschäftsverkehr”).
The law defines e-commerce services as digital services offered through websites and mobile apps that are provided electronically at the individual request of a consumer with a view to concluding a consumer contract (§ 2 No. 26 BFSG). In practice: most online shops and online booking flows aimed at consumers.
What is not covered
§ 1(4) BFSG excludes certain website and app content, for example pre-recorded time-based media and office file formats published before 28 June 2025, online maps (if essential navigation information is provided accessibly), third-party content the business neither funds, develops nor controls, and archived content not updated after 28 June 2025. Offers aimed only at businesses (B2B) are not consumer services.
Microenterprises
§ 3(3) BFSG: the accessibility requirement does not apply to microenterprises that offer or provide services. A microenterprise (§ 2 No. 17) employs fewer than ten people and has either an annual turnover of no more than €2 million or an annual balance sheet total of no more than €2 million. See the microenterprise exemption explainer.
What the BFSGV asks of online services
The BFSGV sets general requirements for services (§ 12), for example providing information about the service in an accessible way and making websites and apps perceivable, operable, understandable and robust, plus additional requirements for e-commerce (§ 19), such as accessible information about payment and identification methods. In practice, businesses use EN 301 549 and WCAG as the technical benchmark.
Transition rules (§ 38 BFSG)
- Until 27 June 2030, service providers may keep providing services using products they already lawfully used before 28 June 2025.
- Service contracts concluded before 28 June 2025 may continue unchanged until they end, but not beyond 27 June 2030.
- Self-service terminals already in use may be used until the end of their economic life, but for no longer than 15 years after first use.
Enforcement
Market surveillance is carried out by authorities designated under the law of the German federal states (Länder).
Next steps
Run a free scan of your checkout or booking flow, plan a manual review, and keep a dated record of what you tested and fixed. Remember: automated testing cannot catch everything.