Accessibility is now the law: what Slovak online shops must check
Since 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act applies to online shops. Here is what Slovakia’s rules mean in practice, and a checklist to start with.
Since 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies across the EU. In Slovakia it is implemented by Act No. 351/2022 Z. z. on the accessibility of products and services for persons with disabilities, and by Government Regulation No. 283/2023 Z. z., which sets the requirements for services. Online shops, websites and apps that offer services to consumers are covered, so an online shop is squarely in scope.
What the rules ask for in practice
The goal is that people can perceive, operate, understand and rely on digital services. For a shop that means concrete things: text alternatives for product images, colour contrast that people can read, forms that explain errors clearly, and a checkout that works with a keyboard and a screen reader.
The Slovak rules also expect a shop to make its identification, security and payment functions accessible, to provide accessibility information about the products it sells where it has that information, and to make its support channels accessible.
Who may be exempt
Very small service providers can be exempt. Commentators point to a threshold of fewer than 10 employees and turnover under EUR 2 million, but the exact conditions depend on the wording of the law. Do not assume your client is exempt without checking. Even where an exemption applies, accessible design is far cheaper to build in from the start than to fix later.
A starting checklist for an online shop
- Run an audit against WCAG 2.1 level AA, the baseline that the harmonised standard EN 301 549 builds on. Combine automated tools with manual keyboard and screen-reader tests.
- Fix the checkout first. Cart, delivery, payment and confirmation are the steps where people give up.
- Check colour, focus and text size across the whole theme, not only the home page.
- Publish an accessibility statement that describes the current state honestly and gives a contact for reporting problems.
- Keep the theme and plug-ins up to date. A new app or a theme update can break keyboard navigation overnight.
Overlay widgets that promise instant compliance rarely fix the underlying code. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the consolidated text of the law and consult a specialist for your case.