Key data
| Regulation | Corrigendum to Directive (EU) 2019/882 — European Accessibility Act |
|---|---|
| Publication of corrigendum | October 19, 2026 |
| Original entry into force | June 7, 2019 |
| Transposition deadline | June 28, 2022 |
| Mandatory effective application | June 28, 2025 |
| Affected sectors | Technology, online banking, e-commerce, transport, telecommunications |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Obligated parties | Manufacturers, importers and distributors of digital products and services in the EU |
If your company sells online, operates a banking app, manages a transport platform or provides telecommunications services in the EU, the deadline to comply already passed on June 28, 2025. Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act, requires that your products and services be usable by people with disabilities or advanced age. This corrigendum, published on October 19, 2026, corrects material errors in the original text without modifying any substantive obligation: what you had to comply with remains exactly the same.
What does this regulation establish?
Directive (EU) 2019/882 establishes harmonized accessibility requirements applicable to products and services throughout the EU. Its objective is to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities or older people, ensuring that they can use the same digital products and services as the rest of the population.
The obligated parties are three types of economic actors:
- Manufacturers: must design and produce their products in compliance with accessibility requirements from the outset.
- Importers: must verify that products they introduce to the EU market comply with the directive before marketing them.
- Distributors: must ensure that the products they distribute maintain compliance and do not compromise it.
The corrigendum published in October 2026 corrects material errors in the text of the original directive (published in Official Journal L 151 of June 7, 2019). These technical corrections ensure correct legal interpretation of the text, but do not modify any substantive obligation: the deadlines, affected sectors and accessibility requirements remain unchanged.
Economic and operational impact
The real impact of this directive is not the corrigendum itself, but the fact that full enforceability has been in force since June 28, 2025. Companies that have not yet adapted their products and services are in active non-compliance.
The operational costs of compliance vary depending on each company's starting point, but typically include:
- Accessibility audit of existing digital products and platforms.
- Redesign or adaptation of interfaces, applications and content.
- Update of technical documentation and declarations of conformity.
- Internal training of development, design and customer service teams.
- Review of contracts with suppliers and third parties that supply digital components.
On the risk side, non-compliance can result in significant penalties whose specific amount depends on the sanctioning regulations of each EU Member State. In Spain, the transposition and specific sanctioning regime determine the exact scope of applicable fines.
Who does it affect?
The directive affects companies that manufacture, import or distribute the following types of products and services in the EU:
- Technology: manufacturers and distributors of hardware and software with user interface (computers, smartphones, operating systems, applications).
- Online banking: financial entities that provide banking services through digital channels (electronic banking, apps, ATMs).
- E-commerce: online stores and marketplaces that sell products or services to consumers in the EU.
- Transport: transport operators that offer ticket sales, information or trip management services through digital means.
- Telecommunications: providers of electronic communications services aimed at end consumers.
The obligation falls on manufacturers, importers and distributors, regardless of whether the company is based in the EU or outside it, as long as its products or services are marketed in the European market.
Practical example
A Spanish ecommerce company with its own online store that sells to consumers in Spain, France and Germany is directly obligated by the directive from June 28, 2025. This means that its website and mobile app must be accessible to users with visual, hearing or motor disabilities.
If that company has not made any adaptations to date, it is in a situation of non-compliance. The immediate steps would be: hire an accessibility audit (in accordance with standards such as WCAG 2.1 level AA, which serve as the usual technical reference for complying with the directive), identify existing gaps, prioritize corrections by impact and risk, and document the compliance process. The cost of not acting includes both the risk of penalties and the risk of claims from users with disabilities.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if you are within the scope of application: check if your company manufactures, imports or distributes digital products or services in any of the five affected sectors (technology, banking, ecommerce, transport, telecommunications) in the EU market.
- Audit current accessibility status: commission a technical evaluation of your platforms, apps and digital products to identify what complies and what does not comply with the directive's requirements.
- Develop a prioritized remediation plan: with the audit results, define a schedule of corrections ordered by criticality and legal risk.
- Update conformity documentation: prepare or review the declarations of conformity and technical documentation required from manufacturers and importers.
- Review the supply chain: if you distribute third-party products, verify that your suppliers also comply with the directive, as responsibility may extend to the distributor.
- Consult the national sanctioning regime: identify the specific penalties applicable in each Member State where you operate, as the amount varies by country.
Frequently asked questions
From when is compliance with the European digital accessibility directive mandatory?
The effective application of Directive (EU) 2019/882 is mandatory from June 28, 2025. Member States were required to transpose it into their national legislation before June 28, 2022. Companies that have not adapted their products and services have been in non-compliance since that date.
Which sectors must comply with the EU accessibility directive?
The five sectors expressly affected are: technology, online banking, e-commerce, transport and telecommunications. Within each sector, the obligation falls on manufacturers, importers and distributors of digital products and services marketed in the EU.
What changes with the corrigendum published in October 2026?
The corrigendum corrects only material errors in the original text of the directive, published in Official Journal L 151 of June 7, 2019. It does not modify any substantive obligation: the deadlines, affected sectors and accessibility requirements remain exactly the same. Its function is to ensure correct legal interpretation of the text.
What penalties are there for non-compliance with mandatory digital accessibility?
The directive establishes that non-compliance can result in significant penalties, but the specific amount is set by the sanctioning regulations of each EU Member State. In Spain, the applicable sanctions regime depends on national transposition. It is recommended to consult the specific regulations of the country where you operate.
Does this directive affect companies outside the EU that sell in Europe?
Yes. The obligation applies to any company that manufactures, imports or distributes digital products or services in the EU market, regardless of where it is based. Importers, in particular, must verify that products they introduce to the European market comply with accessibility requirements before marketing them.
Official source
Consult complete regulations at official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882R(04)
