Disclaimer I’m not a lawyer, this is my current understanding
No. The accessibility deadline for websites and digital services is 28 June 2025. The 2030 deadline applies only to certain physical products placed on the market before 2025 - not to websites or apps. EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2019/882
What is the 2030 deadline actually for?
There seems to be a misconception swirling around, if you manage a website or digital service, you might be thinking, “we have until 2030 to make our site accessible.” The 2030 deadline is a grace period for non-compliant products (like ATMs or ticket machines) placed on the market before 2025. These may remain on sale until 28 June 2030.
It does not apply to digital services, which can be updated. This refers to physical products used to provide services. A website itself isn’t a “product lawfully used by them to provide similar services” in the same sense as a tangible piece of equipment. The content and functionality of the website are the service.
“Service contracts agreed before 28 June 2025 may continue without alteration until they expire, but no longer than five years from that date.”
This refers to service contracts. If a contract for a website’s development or maintenance was signed before June 28, 2025, that contract can continue, but the website itself (as a service) would still need to comply with accessibility requirements by the general deadline. The contract’s validity doesn’t exempt the service from the legal requirements.
Websites are generally not considered “self-service terminals” in the context of this directive. Websites are digital interfaces accessed via various devices (computers, smartphones, tablets), not fixed physical terminals. EUR-Lex: Article 32 - Transitional provisions
Our website is already live - does that mean we have until 2030?
No. Websites and apps are considered digital services, which must meet accessibility standards by 28 June 2025. Unlike physical products, digital services are not eligible for the 2030 exemption. In essence, the 2030 deadline is for hardware with a finite lifespan, not for dynamic digital services that are expected to evolve. European Commission Q&A on the EAA – “Digital services must comply by 2025.”
So, what can we do now?
Form an Accessibility Team. if you don’t have one, create a dedicated team to audit your current website or app, understand the gaps, and plan remediation.
Shift mindset, Accessibility is a function, not a one-off project
The “project” approach: If you treat accessibility as a single project to fix your current site and then move on, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Every new feature, every content update, every design tweak can (and often will) introduce new accessibility barriers if not considered from the outset.
The “function” approach: Think of accessibility like security. You wouldn’t “do a security project” once and then disband your security team, would you? Accessibility needs to be an ongoing, integrated part of your development, design, and content creation processes. It requires continuous monitoring, training, and a cultural shift within your organisation.
Without this, you’ll face regressions and need another “fix-it project” in a few months, costing you more time and money in the long run. The deadline is firm: June 28, 2025. It’s time to act and integrate accessibility into the digital strategy.