A new Slovak law will soon require companies to make their websites, mobile apps and e-shops accessible to people with disabilities. (source: Vecteezy)
A new Slovak law will soon require companies to make their websites, mobile apps and e-shops accessible to people with disabilities. From 28 June 2025, Slovakia will enforce legislation on the accessibility of products and services, in line with the EU’s European Accessibility Act.
The law aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can use digital services – promoting inclusion and independence for people with visual, hearing, cognitive or physical impairments. Most companies operating online in Slovakia will be affected, except for microenterprises (those with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover of under €2 million), the law firm Ružička and Partners cautions.
The regulation covers services ranging from public transport and banking to so-called information society services – a broad category that includes websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, news websites, social networks, and online booking or auction systems. Any website that collects personal data in exchange for access, even without monetary payment, may fall under the law.
Service providers must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, which require websites to support screen readers, keyboard navigation, sufficient colour contrast and large clickable elements for people with limited motor skills. Other features include audio descriptions, captions, simplified navigation and the use of plain language.
In addition, businesses will be required to publish an Accessibility Statement detailing how their services meet these standards.
Penalties
There are exceptions. Services under contracts signed before June 2025 are exempt until the contract expires – or until 2030 at the latest. Archived content, such as old videos or documents not updated since the law takes effect, is also excluded.
If complying with the law would cause a disproportionate burden, businesses may request an exemption from the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI), the main supervisory authority. However, they must demonstrate the financial or technical difficulty and notify the regulator in advance.
Penalties for non-compliance range from €200 to €30,000. For example, failing to provide an accessibility statement may result in a €6,000 fine, while failure to meet key technical requirements could lead to penalties of up to €20,000. In some cases, the SOI may waive fines if the provider demonstrates good faith or takes corrective action.
Audit your website
With the enforcement date approaching, legal experts are urging companies to assess whether the rules apply to them. “Start by checking whether you qualify as a provider of information society services and whether you meet the microenterprise exemption,” advises Tomáš Borecký, a lawyer at Ružička and Partners. “If the law applies, audit your website or app now.”
The Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovakia, along with other firms, offers accessibility audits and technical support. If compliance proves too costly, companies are advised to submit their case to the SOI in writing.
Although the law takes effect soon, the Slovak Trade Inspection, along with other public authorities, has not issued detailed implementation guidance. As a result, businesses remain uncertain about how exactly to meet the new requirements.
