European Accessibility Act, article register (Directive (EU) 2019/882) annex-i-1: Annex I, Section I: General product accessibility requirements

What does annex-i-1 require?

The opening sentence sets the design test: products must be designed and produced to be as usable as possible by disabled people in the ways they can be expected to be used, and, where possible, must carry accessible information on how they work and on their accessibility features. Point 1 covers information. Information on the product itself, such as labelling, instructions and warnings, must reach the user through more than one sensory channel, be understandable and perceivable, use type that is large enough and shaped for the conditions of use, have sufficient contrast and let the reader widen the spacing between characters, lines and blocks. Instructions not carried on the product, for example on a website, must be public before the product is first supplied, meet the same presentation qualities, be in text formats that can generate alternative assistive formats, give an alternative presentation of non-text content, describe the interface and the disability-related functions against point 2, and describe the software and hardware interfaces with assistive devices, including the devices tested with the product. Point 2 covers the interface and functionality. The product must allow access, perception, operation, understanding and control through more than one sensory channel; alternatives to speech and vocal input; flexible magnification, brightness and contrast and interoperability with navigation aids; an alternative to colour and to audible signals; volume and speed control with enhanced audio and reduced interference; sequential control, alternatives to fine motor control, no simultaneous controls and tactilely discernible parts; no extensive reach or great strength; no triggering of photosensitive seizures; privacy when accessibility features are used; an alternative to biometric identification; consistent behaviour and flexible time; and interfaces with assistive technology. Point 2(o) adds sector rules for self-service terminals, e-readers, consumer terminal equipment for electronic communications and consumer terminal equipment for audiovisual media. Point 3 requires support services, where available, to give accessibility and compatibility information in accessible modes.