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European Accessibility Act in Germany (Deutschland): national law for services

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-15. Laws change — check the current official text before relying on this page.

National law

Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2019/882 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates über die Barrierefreiheitsanforderungen für Produkte und Dienstleistungen (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz – BFSG) — BGBl. 2021 I S. 2970
English rendering (ours): Act implementing Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (Accessibility Strengthening Act – BFSG)
Official text
Verordnung über die Barrierefreiheitsanforderungen für Produkte und Dienstleistungen nach dem Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (Verordnung zum Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz – BFSGV) — BFSGV, BGBl. 2022 I S. 928
English rendering (ours): Ordinance on the accessibility requirements for products and services under the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSGV)
Official text

Obligations for services apply from: 2025-06-28

Authorities

Marktüberwachungsstelle der Länder für die Barrierefreiheit von Produkten und Dienstleistungen (MLBF AöR) — Market Surveillance Authority of the Federal States for the Accessibility of Products and Services
Role (our summary): Joint authority of the Länder, set up as a public-law institution (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) in Saxony-Anhalt (Magdeburg) on the basis of the 'Staatsvertrag zur Aufgabenerfüllung nach dem BFSG'. Per the Bavarian Gewerbeaufsicht, it has been fully competent as the enforcement authority since 26 Sept 2025. It carries out market surveillance of services (§§ 28 to 31 BFSG) and acts on consumer applications under § 32 BFSG. Contact per the Bavarian page: c/o Ministerium für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und Gleichstellung Sachsen-Anhalt, Postfach 39 11 55, 39135 Magdeburg; tel. +49 391 567 6970; MLBF@ms.sachsen-anhalt.de.
www.mlbf-barrierefrei.de
Schlichtungsstelle nach § 16 des Behindertengleichstellungsgesetzes (bei dem Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen) — Conciliation body under § 16 of the Disability Equality Act
Role (our summary): Out-of-court conciliation for consumers who claim a BFSG/BFSGV breach (§ 34 BFSG). The market surveillance authority can be joined to the proceedings at the consumer's request.
www.schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de
Bundesfachstelle für Barrierefreiheit — Federal Accessibility Agency
Role (our summary): Advises microenterprises on applying the BFSG (§ 15 BFSG). It is not an enforcement body.
www.bundesfachstelle-barrierefreiheit.de

How consumers complain (our summary): § 32 Abs. 1 BFSG: a consumer who cannot use a service, or can use it only to a limited extent, because of a breach can apply to the market surveillance authority (the MLBF) to open proceedings. The consumer may mandate a recognised association (§ 15 Abs. 3 BGG) or a qualified entity (§ 3 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 UKlaG) to apply for them; the association can also apply on its own account (§ 32 Abs. 2). § 33 provides legal remedies. Alternatively, under § 34 BFSG, the consumer can apply to the Schlichtungsstelle under § 16 BGG for conciliation. Under § 28 Abs. 4, the authority provides consumers, on request, with information on compliance and on the provider's § 16/§ 17 assessment.

Where service providers must publish accessibility information

§ 14 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 BFSG: a service provider may offer a service only if it has drawn up the information under Anlage 3 Nummer 1 and made it accessible to the public in accessible form, following the BFSGV. § 14 Abs. 2: the information must be kept for as long as the service is offered. Anlage 3 Nr. 1: the provider states how the service meets the accessibility requirements 'in seinen Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen oder auf andere deutlich wahrnehmbare Weise' (in its general terms and conditions or in another clearly perceptible way). In addition to the consumer information under Art. 246 EGBGB, it must include as applicable: (a) a general description of the service in an accessible format; (b) descriptions and explanations needed to understand how the service is carried out; (c) a description of how the service meets the relevant BFSGV requirements; (d) the competent market surveillance authority. Anlage 3 Nr. 2: harmonised standards and technical specifications may be applied. BFSGV § 12 Nr. 2 sets how the information must be presented: more than one sensory channel, findable, understandable, perceivable, text formats usable for assistive formats, adequate font, contrast and spacing, and alternatives for non-text content. No language rule was found in the BFSG. (our summary)

Microenterprise exemption

§ 3 Abs. 3 BFSG: 'Absatz 1 gilt nicht für Kleinstunternehmen, die Dienstleistungen anbieten oder erbringen.' Under this, the accessibility obligation does not apply to microenterprises that offer or provide services; BMAS issues guidelines for them. § 2 Nr. 17 defines a Kleinstunternehmen as a company with fewer than 10 employees and either annual turnover of at most EUR 2 million or an annual balance-sheet total of at most EUR 2 million. § 15: the Bundesfachstelle für Barrierefreiheit advises microenterprises. (our summary)

Under the Directive, microenterprises providing services are exempt (Article 4(5)); a microenterprise employs fewer than 10 persons and has an annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million (Article 3(23)).

Sources

Need an accessibility statement and Annex V information for a service offered in Germany? Our documents cite this national law and these authorities, in up to 24 EU languages.

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