BFSG Germany website compliance is the question facing every online shop that sells to customers in Germany. This guide explains what the BFSG is, who it covers, what to confirm about microenterprises and how to prepare step by step. It is general information, not legal advice.
What the BFSG is and who it covers
The BFSG (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz) is Germany’s law implementing the European Accessibility Act. According to the European Commission, the Act covers e-commerce among other products and services. Online shops selling to consumers in Germany should therefore plan for accessible websites, checkout and customer information, and confirm their exact obligations in the official BFSG text.
The European Commission describes the Act as a directive that improves the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by different national rules. Member States had to incorporate it into national law by June 2022. You can read the Commission’s European Accessibility Act overview for the list of covered products and services.
A quick who, what and when summary:
- Who: businesses offering covered products and services, including e-commerce, to consumers in the EU market.
- What: accessibility requirements for those products and services, set out in the BFSG for Germany.
- When: the Commission says transposition was due by June 2022. For the German application dates, check the transitional provisions in § 38 of the BFSG.
If you want the wider EU picture first, our European Accessibility Act website guide covers it in plain language.
How online shops are affected
The BFSG’s table of contents shows the structure that matters to merchants: scope and definitions in § 1 and § 2, accessibility requirements in § 3, and obligations of service providers in § 14. The official BFSG contents page links to each section in German.
In practice, a shop is more than a homepage. Product pages, search and filters, the cart, checkout, customer accounts and the way you present service information all form part of what a customer experiences. Our web accessibility guide for online stores walks through these areas one by one.
The microenterprise question: confirm before you rely on it
Many small merchants ask whether they are exempt. The sources used for this article do not settle that, so treat it as an open point to confirm. Read §§ 1 and 2 of the BFSG and ask a qualified German adviser how they apply to your business size and shop type.
Do not assume the disproportionate burden rules are a blanket exemption. The BFSG covers them in § 17 and sets assessment criteria in Anlage 4. The Bundesfachstelle für Barrierefreiheit also offers advice under § 15. Even if you turn out to be exempt, the Commission notes that accessible products and services open up more market opportunities.
Which technical standard to aim for
The BFSG refers to a presumption of conformity based on harmonised standards (§ 4) and technical specifications (§ 5). Because the exact standard references can change, confirm the current one with your adviser or the official text.
For day-to-day work, most teams use the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines as the testing yardstick. WCAG 2.2 Level AA is a sensible working target for a shop, because it covers keyboard use, color contrast, form labels and error handling. Treat it as a practical goal, not proof of legal compliance.
BFSG Germany website compliance: a step-by-step readiness plan
Step 1: Audit your shop
List your key customer journeys: find a product, add to cart, check out, create an account and contact support. Test each with a keyboard only, then with a screen reader, and run an automated scan. Record every barrier with its page and severity.
Step 2: Fix what you find
Start with blockers in checkout and forms, then move to navigation, images and contrast. A tool such as Accessify can apply automated remediation to many common issues after a 2-minute install, but custom components and complex flows still need manual testing and code fixes. Our step-by-step e-commerce EAA fixes list the most common repairs.
Step 3: Publish an accessibility statement
Explain in plain language how your shop meets accessibility requirements, which gaps remain and how customers can reach you. Anlage 3 of the BFSG deals with information about services that meet the requirements, so check it for what to include.
Step 4: Monitor and repeat
Every new theme update, app or campaign page can introduce new barriers. Re-test key journeys after each release, keep a named owner for accessibility, and log customer feedback.
Two examples
Small Shopify store: a founder sells 60 products on a standard theme. She audits the five main journeys in an afternoon, fixes alt text and form labels herself, adds an automated layer for common issues, and publishes a short statement. She still checks checkout manually after each app change.
Mid-size shop: a team of 20 runs a customized theme with several third-party apps. An agency runs a full manual audit, developers fix issues in the codebase, and QA adds accessibility checks to every release. An automated tool supports monitoring but does not replace the audit. These are illustrative scenarios, not customer results.
How Accessify compares with other tools on EAA and BFSG coverage
UserWay, accessiBe and AudioEye are established names in the accessibility market, and each publishes its own product information. Because vendor features and pricing change, verify every claim on the vendor’s public pages before you decide.
| What to check | Accessify | UserWay, accessiBe, AudioEye |
|---|---|---|
| Standards focus | ADA, WCAG 2.2 and EAA | Check each vendor’s page for stated EAA and BFSG coverage |
| Setup | 2-minute install on Shopify, WordPress and other platforms | Check each vendor’s supported platforms |
| Remediation | AI-powered automated remediation | Check how each combines automation with services |
| Pricing | Plans from $19/month | Check each vendor’s site for current pricing |
Accessify fits small and mid-size shops on platforms such as Shopify or WordPress that want a fast automated layer. A shop with complex custom code, high order volumes or strict governance needs may be better served by a manual audit, a managed service or an enterprise platform. No widget alone guarantees compliance.
Readiness checklist
- Confirm in the official BFSG text whether and how it applies to your business, including any microenterprise point.
- Choose WCAG 2.2 Level AA as your working test target.
- Audit product pages, search, cart, checkout and account areas.
- Fix keyboard, label, contrast and error-message issues first.
- Publish an accessibility statement and keep a contact route.
- Re-test after every theme, app or content change.
- Combine automation with manual testing and get legal advice for edge cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BFSG stand for and what is it?
BFSG is the German abbreviation for the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, Germany’s law that implements the European Accessibility Act. It sets accessibility requirements for covered products and services, including e-commerce. The full text, including scope in § 1 and obligations for service providers in § 14, is published on gesetze-im-internet.de.
Does the BFSG apply to my Shopify store?
It can, if you sell to consumers in Germany and your shop counts as a covered e-commerce service. Scope is set out in § 1 and § 2 of the BFSG. Your platform choice does not change your own obligations, so check the text or ask a lawyer, and test your live storefront.
How much does it cost to make an online shop accessible?
It depends on your shop’s size, theme and current state. Costs typically come from an audit, fixes in code or content, and ongoing monitoring. Automated tools such as Accessify start from $19/month, but check the vendor’s site for current pricing, and budget separately for manual testing on complex shops.
Is an accessibility widget enough for the BFSG?
Not on its own. A widget with automated remediation can fix many common issues quickly, but it cannot guarantee legal compliance. Complex checkouts, custom components and downloadable documents often need manual testing and fixes in the underlying code. Treat a widget as one layer of a wider plan.
What should I fix first on my shop?
Start with the path a customer takes: product pages, search, cart and checkout. Check keyboard access, visible focus, form labels, error messages, image alternatives and color contrast. Fixing these areas first helps the most shoppers and gives you a clear base before you tackle the rest of the site.
Can I be penalised for not complying?
The BFSG includes market surveillance for services (§ 28 and § 29), remedies (§ 33), mediation (§ 34) and fine provisions (§ 37). This article does not state amounts. Read those sections or ask a German lawyer what applies to your shop. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ready for a first step? Accessify installs in about 2 minutes on Shopify and WordPress, and works best alongside your own manual checks.
