If your Shopify store sells to customers in the European Union, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to you — regardless of where your business is registered. This guide walks through exactly what you need to check, fix, and document.
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EAA Compliance for Shopify Stores
Shopify-Specific Guidance for Selling Accessibly into the EU
Chapter 1: What the EAA Means for Your Shopify Store
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) took full effect on June 28, 2025. It requires that products and services sold in the EU meet common accessibility standards. For e-commerce stores — including those built on Shopify — this means your website must be usable by people with disabilities.
Who must comply
Any business selling to EU consumers, regardless of where the business is headquartered. A Shopify store based in New York, Sydney, or Singapore that ships to customers in Germany, France, or Spain must comply.
Covered products and services under the EAA
For an e-commerce store, the EAA covers:
- The entire browsing experience (product catalog, search, navigation)
- Product selection and purchasing (filters, size/color selectors, add-to-cart)
- Checkout and payment flows
- Customer accounts and order tracking
- Contact forms and support interfaces
What happens if you don't comply
Each EU member state sets its own penalties. Current enforcement examples:
- Germany (BFSG): fines up to €100,000 per violation
- France: fines up to €75,000, with daily penalties for ongoing non-compliance
- Netherlands: administrative fines, plus orders to remediate within deadlines
- Spain: fines up to €600,000 for serious infractions
- Sweden: fines up to €900,000
Beyond fines: enterprise partners increasingly ask for proof of EAA compliance before signing contracts. A non-compliant store can lose B2B revenue even without a direct fine.
The standard you need to meet
The EAA references EN 301 549, which in turn references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the baseline technical standard. From 2026, WCAG 2.2 Level AA is increasingly the expected level. Practically, WCAG 2.1 AA covers everything you need for compliance — WCAG 2.2 adds a few new criteria that most Shopify themes already meet.
That was the beginning
The complete book continues with nine chapters and two appendices: product image alt text systems, theme accessibility, checkout and forms, the required accessibility statement, and how to test and maintain compliance.
Working through these checks for one store is an afternoon; across several stores and clients you want it automated. EUComply Pro scans a store for you and writes the accessibility report your clients ask for: $79 per website per year.
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