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Accessibility legislation: Bulgaria

The flag of Bulgaria

The Law on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services which defines the official accessibility requirements in Bulgaria, was promulgated in State Gazette № 31 on April 11, 2025 and takes effect on June 28, 2025. It transposes Directive (EU) 2019/882 into Bulgarian law, with market surveillance carried out by the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP).

Scope of application

The following products and services must meet accessibility requirements:

Products

  • Computers and operating systems
  • Payment terminals and other self-service terminals, such as ATMs, ticket-vending and check-in machines
  • Smartphones and other telecommunications equipment
  • Television reception equipment supporting digital TV services
  • E-readers

Services

  • Telephone services
  • Access to audiovisual media services
  • Passenger transport services (websites, mobile apps, e-tickets, passenger information) for air, bus, rail and water transport
  • Consumer banking services
  • E-books
  • E-commerce
  • Receipt of emergency calls via the single European number 112

Exceptions

According to the Law on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services, the accessibility requirements in Bulgaria do not extend to pre‐recorded time‐based media content (for example, videos) or to office document formats that were published before the law’s entry into force on June 28, 2025; they likewise exclude online maps, so long as the essential information they contain remains available in another digital form; they do not cover websites or other archived digital material that has not been updated or issued after June 28, 2025; and they do not apply to services provided by micro-enterprises.

Fines and penalties

Non-compliance with the accessibility requirements in Bulgaria carries escalating penalties, with higher fines for repeated breaches:

  • Failure to meet accessibility requirements
  • First offence: fine of BGN 1 000 (€ 511) – 5 000 (€ 2 556) or property penalty of BGN 5 000 (€ 2 556) – 25 000 (€ 12 782)
  • Repeated offence: fine of BGN 2 000 (€ 1 023) – 10 000 (€ 5 113) or property penalty of BGN 10 000 (€ 5 113) – 50 000 (€ 25 564)
  • Missing or inadequate technical documentation or declarations
  • First offence: fine of BGN 1 000 (€ 511) – 5 000 (€ 2 556) or property penalty of BGN 5 000 (€ 2 556) – 25 000 (€ 12 782)
  • Repeated offence: fine of 2 000 (€ 1 023) – 10 000 (€ 5 113) or property penalty of BGN 10 000 (€ 5 113) – 50 000 (€ 25 564)
  • Placing a product on the market without a serial number or other identifying mark
  • First offence: fine of BGN 200 (€ 102) – 1 000 (€ 511) or pecuniary penalty of BGN 750 (€ 383) – 2 500 (€ 1 278)
  • Repeated offence: fine of BGN 400 (€ 205) – 2 000 (€ 1 023) or pecuniary penalty of BGN 1 500 (€ 767) – 5 000 (€ 2 556)
  • Omitting required name, trademark or contact details
  • First offence: fine of BGN 200 (€ 102) – 1 000 (€ 511) or pecuniary penalty of BGN 750 (€ 383) – 2 500 (€ 1 278)
  • Repeated offence: fine of BGN 400 (€ 205) – 2 000 (€ 1 023) or pecuniary penalty of BGN 1 500 (€ 767) – 5 000 (€ 2 556)
  • Lack of instructions and safety information in Bulgarian
  • First offence: fine of BGN 200 (€ 102) – 1 000 (€ 511) or property penalty of BGN 750 (€ 383) – 2 500 (€ 1 278)
  • Repeated offence: fine of BGN 400 (€ 205) – 2 000 (€ 1 023) or property penalty of BGN 1 500 (€ 767) – 5 000 (€ 2 556)
  • Failure to cooperate with market surveillance (e.g. refusing inspections or withholding documents)
  • First offence: fine of BGN 1 000 (€ 511) – 5 000 (€ 2 556) or property penalty of BGN 5 000 (€ 2 556) – 20 000 (€ 10 226)
  • Repeated offence: fine of BGN 2 000 (€ 1 023) – 10 000 (€ 5 113) or property penalty of BGN 10 000 (€ 5 113) – 25 000 (€ 12 783)

In each case, leaving non-conformities unaddressed leads to substantially higher sanctions on subsequent checks. This tiered approach encourages manufacturers, importers and other operators to maintain up-to-date documentation, accurate labelling and full accessibility compliance at all times.

Reporting

All digital service providers must publish an accessibility statement on their websites or apps that clearly details:

  • Whether and how their services meet the legal requirements
  • Any known accessibility shortcomings and planned remediation measures
  • How users can report barriers or request assistance

If users encounter accessibility barriers or wish to submit a complaint regarding non-compliance, they may contact the competent authority, the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP). Complaints can be submitted via:

Email: info@kzp.bg

Phone number: +359 2 980 25 24

Official website: https://kzp.bg/

Address: Bulgaria, 1000 Sofia, Slaveykov Square No. 4A, 3rd floor

Compliance with the Law on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services requires a clear Accessibility Statement. Not sure where to start? Use our Free Accessibility Statement Generator to create one in minutes.

For the full text of the law and any updates, please consult the official publication at https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2137249754

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