Does the EAA Apply to Your UK Business? — A Quick Guide 2026
„Does the EAA apply to my UK business?" That's the most common question UK business owners ask about the European Accessibility Act.
In this guide, we'll give you a quick, clear answer and help you determine whether the EAA applies to your UK business.
📌 Quick Answer — Does the EAA Apply to UK Businesses?
The EAA applies to UK businesses that offer goods or services in the EU. If your UK business does not trade in the EU, the EAA does not apply to you — but you must still comply with the Equality Act 2010. If you do trade in the EU, you must comply with the EAA and meet EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 Level AA).
✅ Test your website for EAA compliance
Use the free UK ADA checker to scan your website against WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
Free UK Checker →Does the EAA apply to UK businesses?
Yes — but only if you trade in the EU.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to all businesses — regardless of where they are based — that offer goods or services in the EU. This means UK businesses are covered if they have EU customers.
📊 Quick Check — Does the EAA Apply to You?
- ✅ Yes — If you sell goods/services to EU customers
- ✅ Yes — If you have an EU presence (office, warehouse)
- ✅ Yes — If you target EU customers (language, currency)
- ❌ No — If you only serve UK customers
- ❌ No — If you are a micro-enterprise (<10 employees, €2M turnover)
When does the EAA apply to UK businesses?
1. You sell goods to EU customers
If your UK business sells physical or digital products to customers in the EU, the EAA applies. This includes:
- Physical products — consumer goods, electronics, clothing
- Digital products — software, e-books, digital content
- E-commerce — online stores selling to EU customers
2. You provide services to EU customers
If your UK business provides services to EU customers, the EAA applies. This includes:
- Banking and financial services
- Transport services — flights, trains, buses, ferries
- Telecommunications — phone, internet, mobile
- E-books and digital publishing
- Professional services — legal, accounting, consulting
3. You have an EU presence
If your UK business has a physical presence in the EU (e.g., office, warehouse, store), the EAA applies.
4. You target EU customers
If your website is targeted at EU customers (e.g., language, currency, marketing), the EAA applies.
⚠️ Important — How to determine if you target EU customers
Courts consider several factors to determine if you target EU customers:
- Language — your website is in an EU language
- Currency — your website displays prices in euros
- Marketing — you advertise in EU countries
- Delivery — you ship to EU countries
- Customer base — you have EU customers
When does the EAA NOT apply to UK businesses?
1. You only serve UK customers
If your UK business only serves UK customers and has no presence in the EU, the EAA does not apply.
2. You are a micro-enterprise
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million turnover are exempt from the EAA. This is a significant exemption for small UK businesses.
3. Your products/services are not covered
Some products and services are exempt from the EAA, including:
- Military products
- Some medical devices
- Some passenger transport services (limited exemptions)
4. You have a disproportionate burden
If compliance would be a disproportionate burden, you may be exempt. You must assess and document this.
What UK businesses must do to comply
Step 1: Determine if the EAA applies
Use the checklist above to determine if the EAA applies to your UK business.
Step 2: Scan your website
If the EAA applies, use the free UK ADA checker to scan your website against WCAG 2.2 Level AA (which exceeds EAA requirements).
Step 3: Fix all violations
Follow the recommendations in the report to fix all violations.
Step 4: Publish an accessibility statement
Publish an accessibility statement on your website (required under the EAA).
Step 5: Document everything
Document all tests and improvements. This serves as evidence of your compliance efforts.
What if the EAA does not apply to you?
If the EAA does not apply to your UK business, you must still comply with the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act applies to all UK businesses that provide services to the public.
If you comply with the Equality Act (WCAG 2.2 AA), you are also compliant with the EAA (WCAG 2.1 AA) — so you are ready if you ever start trading in the EU.
EAA Applicability — Quick Reference
| Situation | EAA Applies? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| UK business, UK customers only | ❌ No | Comply with Equality Act 2010 |
| UK business, EU customers | ✅ Yes | Comply with EAA + Equality Act |
| UK business, global customers (including EU) | ✅ Yes | Comply with EAA + Equality Act + ADA |
| Micro-enterprise (<10 employees, €2M) | ❌ No (exempt) | Comply with Equality Act 2010 |
Frequently Asked Questions — EAA Applicability
Yes — but only if you trade in the EU. If you offer goods or services to EU customers, the EAA applies to your UK business.
If you only serve UK customers and have no EU presence, the EAA does not apply. You must still comply with the Equality Act 2010.
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million turnover are exempt from the EAA.
If you trade in the EU, you must comply with both the EAA and the Equality Act. The Equality Act applies to all UK businesses.
Use the checklist in this guide: if you sell to EU customers, have an EU presence, or target EU customers, the EAA applies to you.
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