Who has to comply
Consumer-facing private services. Public-sector covered by Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz (WZG) since 2018.
Austria is a mid-sized, German-speaking market closely tied to the German e-commerce sphere, so foreign sellers who localise for Germany often reach Austrian consumers with the same storefront. Under the BaFG, a non-EU seller shipping to Austrian consumers is covered on the country-of-consumption basis, and a German-language accessibility statement is expected. Cross-border sellers should note Austria is a distinct jurisdiction from Germany despite the shared language: BaFG obligations and the Austrian enforcement body apply independently of anything done for the BFSG.
What the law actually requires
BaFG sets the technical bar at WCAG 2.1 Level AA via EN 301 549. On top of it, Bundesgesetz über die Barrierefreiheit von Produkten und Dienstleistungen lists these operational duties:
- EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA
- German-language accessibility statement
Penalties and how enforcement actually works
Administrative fines up to €80,000.
Enforcement runs through the Sozialministeriumservice together with the consumer-protection ministry, giving the regime a social-affairs framing rather than a pure market-surveillance one. The Austrian approach is largely complaint-driven, with administrative fines up to €80,000 and the ability to order corrective action. Microenterprises are exempt from the service-related obligations, so the regulator's practical focus falls on larger consumer-facing operators, and the required German-language statement is the first thing an official is likely to check.
Public-sector obligations
Austria also has a separate public-sector law: Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz (WZG) — public-sector since 2018. It predates the EAA and remains in force for government and public-funded sites. Public bodies must publish a conformance statement and re-audit periodically.
Reading the BaFG at the source
The law is cited as Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (Bundesgesetz über die Barrierefreiheit von Produkten und Dienstleistungen). Enforcement: Sozialministeriumservice and the consumer protection ministry. Key date: 28 June 2025. We have not yet linked a verified national source for Austria; the European Commission's EAA page under Sources describes the EU directive the national law implements.
Sources
- European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) · European Commission
Links checked 12 October 2026. Not legal advice. Methodology · About Certvo