Why Shopify and EAA
Every Shopify store selling to EU consumers is in scope of the European Accessibility Act, which has applied since 28 June 2025. That includes dropshipping stores, print-on-demand shops and D2C brands — micro-enterprises providing services are covered too. The technical benchmark is EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 level AA, and enforcement is national: market surveillance authorities can require remediation, suspend non-compliant services and issue fines that vary by member state. For a store owner the practical risk is more immediate than regulators: accessible stores convert better, rank better, and are increasingly demanded by procurement teams and marketplaces.
Legal Scope
E-commerce of consumer goods and services is explicitly named in the EAA. Selling into the EU from anywhere triggers it — no EU establishment required.
Conversion
Accessibility fixes overlap heavily with conversion optimisation: readable text, visible focus, working keyboard flows, clear error messages.
Litigation Risk
US-style ADA demand letters increasingly cite WCAG regardless of platform. An EAA-compliant store is also far safer in that context.