Accessibility legislation: Czech Republic
Act No. 99/2019 on Accessibility Requirements for Certain Products and Services (as amended by Act No. 424/2023), is the Czech Republic’s core legislation for digital accessibility. It has been enforced starting June 28, 2025. Enforcement responsibilities are divided across several regulatory bodies, with the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (Česká obchodní inspekce) playing a central role. The most recent amendment was adopted on June 7, 2022.
Scope of application
The scope of this Act encompasses a wide range of products and services aimed at ensuring accessibility for consumers. By addressing both physical products and digital services, the Act aims to promote inclusivity across sectors, fostering equal access for all users, regardless of the medium or platform they engage with
The Act applies to the following products:
- Hardware computer systems for general purposes intended for consumers and their operating system
- Self-service payment terminals
- Self-service terminals intended for the provision of services, where accessibility is ensured according to this Act (ATMs; devices for issuing transport documents; check-in kiosks; terminals providing information)
- End devices with interactive computing potential intended for consumers to use for electronic communications services
- End devices with interactive computing potentially intended for consumers to ensure access to audiovisual media services
- Electronic book readers
The Act also applies to the following services provided to consumers:
- Electronic communications services
- Services providing access to audiovisual media services
- Financial services
- Electronic trading services
- Sale of electronic books and software for electronic books
- Services of commercial air transport, international and domestic scheduled transport
- railway transport and water transport, with the exception of urban or regional transport, as regards:
- Websites
- Services provided on mobile devices including mobile applications
- Electronic transport documents and electronic system services for their issuance
- Provision of information on transport services, including travel information in real time
- Self-service terminals
- Urban and regional transport services, but only with respect to self-service terminals
Exceptions
This section highlights specific exemptions from the broader scope of accessibility requirements, addressing cases where certain services or content are excluded based on their nature or context. These exclusions ensure clarity and practicality in implementing accessibility standards, focusing on situations where compliance may not be feasible or directly applicable.
- Services provided by the service provider, which is a micro-enterprise
- Electronic communications services, if they are transmission services used for the provision of communication services between machines
- The content of websites and mobile applications, which is a map and related online map service, if basic information enabling navigation is provided in a digital form that meets accessibility requirements
- Content of websites and mobile applications that does not belong to the service provider, unless finances, creates or can influence it
- Self-service terminals installed as a built-in part of the means of transport
Fines and penalties
This section outlines the potential financial penalties imposed for non-compliance with accessibility obligations. It categorizes offenses by their seriousness, ensuring a structured approach to enforcement and accountability. Based on the severity of the offense the fines go up to:
- CZK 1,000,000 for offenses related to not keeping assessment and documents
- CZK 2,000,000 for offenses related to not taking measures to introduce the service to the market without unnecessary delay, not repeatedly informing the supervisory authority, or not keeping assessment and documents
- CZK 5,000,000 for offenses related to failing to take measures within a reasonable period of time, postponement of measures to bring the product into compliance with accessibility requirements or not withdrawing the product for the entire period of service provision, or not making it accessible to persons with disabilities
- CZK 10,000,000 for offenses related to not identifying the manufacturer, authorized representative, importer, or distributor who delivered the product to him or to whom, as a manufacturer, authorized representative, importer
- Withdrawal of the product from the market, and the requirement to inform the supervisory authority about non-compliance and the measures taken to rectify
These penalties aim to uphold standards and incentivize adherence to accessibility requirements across industries.
Reporting
The Czech Republic follows the EU-wide mandate for accessibility statements on public sector websites and digital services. These accessibility statements are essential for maintaining transparency and accountability.
This statement must be publicly available on their websites and provide clear information on the accessibility status of their digital services, such as whether they meet the required standards or outline existing accessibility issues. The statement should also detail the measures taken to improve accessibility, including any ongoing efforts or plans for remediation. Additionally, the accessibility statement must specify how users can report accessibility problems and request assistance, ensuring that organizations remain accountable and transparent in their commitment to accessible digital experiences.
If users encounter accessibility barriers or wish to submit a complaint regarding non-compliance, they may contact the competent authority, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. Complaints can be submitted via:
Email: podatelna@coi.gov.cz
Phone number: +420 222 703 404
Official website: https://coi.gov.cz/
Address: Czech Trade Inspection Authority, Gorazdova 1969/24, 120 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic
Compliance with the Act No. 99/2019 on Accessibility Requirements for Certain 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 latest and most accurate information on digital accessibility requirements, please refer to the official documentation provided by the Czech government.