Guide
The European Accessibility Act and your images
What the EAA means for alt text, charts and image metadata on your website or online shop, and how to get your library in order.
Full article coming soon. This page outlines what it will cover. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
What is the European Accessibility Act?
- Plain-English summary of the Directive (EU) 2019/882.
- Key date: applies from 28 June 2025.
- How it relates to EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA.
Who does it apply to?
- E-commerce, banking, transport, e-books and other covered services.
- Businesses outside the EU that sell to EU customers.
- Micro-enterprise exemptions and what they do (and don't) cover.
What it means for images
- WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content: every meaningful image needs a text alternative.
- Decorative images: correct use of empty alt.
- Charts, diagrams and infographics: short alt plus a full text or table equivalent.
- Images of text and functional images (links, buttons).
Enforcement and risk
- How member states enforce it; penalties vary by country.
- Accessibility statements and complaints routes.
A practical checklist
- Audit your current image library.
- Fix missing and junk alt text first, then review decorative images.
- Add data tables for charts.
- Build alt text into your upload workflow so new images stay compliant.
FAQ
- Does alt text alone make my site compliant? (No, it's one requirement of many.)
- Does AI-generated alt text count?
- Does this apply to the UK?
See where your site stands
Run a free check for missing and poor alt text across a sample of your pages.
Run a free health check