Switzerland Accessibility Legislation: Scope, Fines & Reporting

Switzerland regulates digital accessibility through The Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against People with Disabilities (BehiG). Following a landmark revision in late 2024, expanded requirements for both public and private service providers are enforced starting June 2025.

The Federal Bureau for the Equality of People with Disabilities (FBED) oversees the coordination of these mandates, ensuring that digital barriers are removed across the Confederation.

Scope of application

The BehiG, supported by the eCH-0059 standard, mandates that a wide range of digital content and services must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes:

• Public sector digital offerings — all websites, mobile applications, and digital services provided by federal, cantonal, and municipal authorities.
• Private service providers — entities offering publicly accessible services, particularly in sectors such as banking, telecommunications, and transport.
• Electronic commerce — online shops and digital marketplaces serving the Swiss public must ensure non-discriminatory access to their interfaces.
• Administrative processes — this encompasses electronically supported processes like digital filings, electronic case management, and public-facing software used by public agencies.

Exceptions

While the legislation is comprehensive, certain types of content are exempt from immediate compliance under the current Swiss framework:

• Pre-recorded time-based media and office file formats published before 28 June 2025.
• Online maps and mapping services, provided that essential information (such as addresses) is provided in an accessible digital alternative.
• Third-party content that is neither funded nor controlled by the service provider.
• Archived content that has not been updated or edited after the enforcement date.
• Micro-enterprises — typically those with fewer than 10 employees or low annual turnover — may be exempt from certain private-sector obligations if compliance constitutes a disproportionate burden.

Fines and penalties

The BehiG enforces compliance through a combination of legal mandates and the principle of “reasonable accommodation.” Under Swiss law, individuals can file discrimination claims if digital services are inaccessible.

While financial penalties for individual claims can reach up to 5,000 CHF, the broader consequence for organizations is the legal requirement to remediate the barrier at their own expense. For private companies, failure to align with these standards also risks exclusion from the broader European market, where the European Accessibility Act (EAA) imposes even stricter financial repercussions and market access restrictions.

Reporting

Switzerland follows international best practices by requiring accessibility statements for digital services. These statements are essential for maintaining transparency and accountability, and they must include:

• Compliance declaration — a summary of the site’s adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, as required by the eCH-0059 standard.
• Accessibility features — a listing of specific functions, such as screen reader compatibility or keyboard navigation, that support users with impairments.
• Contact information — clear points of contact to allow users to report barriers or request information in an alternative format.
• Continuous improvement plans — an outline of ongoing efforts to update legacy systems and enhance the overall user experience.

Complaints

Users who encounter accessibility barriers, or who wish to submit a complaint about non-compliance, can contact the competent authority — the Federal Office for the Equality of People with Disabilities (EBGB):

• Email: ebgb@gs-edi.admin.ch
• Website: ebgb.admin.ch

Getting compliant with QualiBooth

Compliance with The Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against People with Disabilities (BehiG) requires a clear accessibility statement, and evidence that your digital services conform.

QualiBooth scans continuously against WCAG success criteria, so a barrier never sits long enough to turn into a discrimination claim, and manual audits by people with disabilities cover what automation cannot. When it is time to publish, our accessibility statement generator produces a statement with the compliance declaration, accessibility features, contact point and improvement plans the framework requires.

For the latest and most accurate information on Swiss digital accessibility requirements, refer to the official documentation published by the Swiss government.