European Accessibility Act for Shopify Stores: Checklist

Quick answer: The European Accessibility Act (EAA) sets accessibility requirements for many consumer products and services, including e-commerce, sold in the EU. It has applied since 28 June 2025. If you sell to EU customers, check your Shopify store against WCAG 2.1 AA-style requirements and fix keyboard, contrast, label and checkout problems. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA is an EU directive that requires certain products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. Online shops serving EU consumers are in scope, though exemptions can apply for very small businesses. Check whether you qualify with a legal adviser.

What to check on your Shopify store

1. Colour contrast. Text must be readable against its background.
2. Keyboard navigation. Every menu, button and form must work without a mouse, with a visible focus outline.
3. Alt text. Every meaningful image needs a short description. Decorative images should have empty alt text.
4. Form labels. Every field needs a real label, not only placeholder text. Error messages should say what went wrong.
5. Headings and structure. Use one H1 and logical H2/H3 headings.
6. Link and button names. Avoid “click here”. Say what happens.
7. Pop-ups and sliders. They must be dismissible by keyboard and not trap focus.
8. Video and audio. Provide captions or transcripts.
9. Checkout. Test the entire purchase path with a keyboard and a screen reader.

How to test

• Use a keyboard only: Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter and Space.
• Run a free checker such as WAVE or Lighthouse accessibility.
• Test with a screen reader such as VoiceOver (Mac) or NVDA (Windows).
• Test on mobile with zoom and larger text.

Automated tools find only part of the issues, so also test by hand.

Add an accessibility statement

Publish a page describing your accessibility efforts and how people can report problems. Keep it honest and update it as you improve.

Accessibility helps conversion too

Clear labels, good contrast and simple forms help all shoppers, especially on mobile. See my checkout optimization guide and product page guide.

Need an accessibility review of your theme? See my theme customization service or contact me.

Frequently asked questions

Does the European Accessibility Act apply to Shopify stores?

It can apply if you sell to consumers in the EU. Exemptions may exist for very small businesses, so confirm your situation.

What accessibility standard should I follow?

WCAG 2.1 AA is the widely used reference. EU standards point to it.

Can an app make my store accessible?

Overlay tools alone usually do not fix the underlying problems. Fix the theme and content first.

How do I test Shopify accessibility?

Combine automated checks with keyboard and screen-reader testing of key paths, including checkout.

Is this legal advice?

No. Speak with a qualified adviser about your obligations.

About the author: Rajimul Islam is an official Shopify Partner and CRO specialist who has built, migrated and optimized Shopify and Shopify Plus stores since 2019. Need help with Shopify store development? See his case studies or get a free quote.