The new law will make services more accessible to people with disabilities — what will change for businesses?

2 janvāris, 2025 jaunumos

From 28 June 2025, a new Law on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services will enter into force in Lithuania, which aims to ensure that manufacturers, importers, distributors and service providers of certain goods comply with accessibility standards. The focus is on the needs and comfort of people with disabilities. 
The law was not a pure product of Lithuanian national legislation, but implements the EU-wide requirements for certain business sectors set out in Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services.


Who will the law target?

The law covers a wide range of products and services that we encounter every day. It will oblige businesses to make, for example, computer and operating system equipment, self-service terminals (ticketing machines, ATMs), e-books, banking and e-commerce services for consumers, transport information screens and e-tickets more accessible to people with disabilities.



What does this mean for business?

Businesses will have to put in place measures to ensure that products or services can be used for their intended purpose by as many people with disabilities as possible. This includes ensuring that information is presented clearly and in a variety of formats, such as audio as well as text.
These requirements also imply an obligation on businesses to ensure that products and services are easy to use regardless of physical or sensory abilities, and that technologies are compatible with assistive devices (e.g. screen readers).
In addition to the technical implementation of the new requirements, businesses will have to document certain procedures. For example, service providers will have to have a common set of terms and conditions of service which will have to be made public.



Concessions and exemptions for small businesses

Certain exemptions are available for small businesses for which the implementation of the new standards may be too challenging. For example, service providers that are micro-enterprises are exempted from accessibility requirements.
Irrespective of the size of the undertaking, undertakings will be able to opt out of certain requirements if compliance with the requirements requires substantial changes to the essential nature of the product or service, or if compliance is likely to impose a disproportionate burden on the undertaking. However, it is important to note that such non-compliance must be assessed in the disproportionate burden assessment.



Benefits for consumers



Although the new regulation will impose not only administrative but also additional financial burdens on business, especially in the initial phase of implementation, the benefits for consumers are substantial. Greater accessibility will allow people with disabilities or special needs to have freer access to services and products, thus ensuring their equal participation in society.
In addition, the implementation of accessibility standards will improve the quality of services and the versatility of digital solutions, benefiting not only specific groups but also all users. In the long term, this will contribute to social inclusion, reduce discrimination and foster innovation by creating new business opportunities and promoting market competition.



What are the penalties for non-compliance?


Market surveillance authorities such as the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority and the Communications Regulatory Authority will check compliance of products and services with the new regulation. As well as issuing instructions to correct deficiencies, the supervisors will be able to impose fines ranging from €500 to €15,000.



Asta Macijauskienė, Attorney at law, Partner, WIDEN