CONSUMER
European Accessibility Act
CONSUMER
European Accessibility Act
Origin
Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services
General overview
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) introduces harmonised accessibility rules for certain products and services in the EU in order to maximise their use by persons with disabilities. The general requirements set out in the EAA include those relating to the provision of information user-interface and functionality design, support services, instructions sand products packaging.
The products covered include: computers and their operating systems (e.g. smartphones, tablets and laptops), self-service terminals (such as ATMs and ticketing machines), e-readers, and consumer equipment used for electronic communications services and to access audiovisual media services.
The services covered include electronic communications certain transport elements (such as websites and electronic tickets) e-books and related software consumer banking, e-commerce and services providing access to audiovisual media services. In addition to the general requirements, the EAA also provides additional service specific accessibility requirements.
Status
Member States to adopt & publish implementing measures by 28 June 2022 & apply those measures from 28 June 2025 On 20 July 2022, the European Commission sent Ireland (& other Member States) a letter of formal notice for failing to transpose the EAA into national law by the deadline
AWAITING TRANSPOSITION
INTO IRISH LAW