Romania has fully integrated European Union accessibility directives into its national legal framework, establishing clear digital accessibility requirements for both public and private sector entities. The country’s legislation transposes two key EU mandates: the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Understanding this legal landscape is essential for any business operating or offering services within Romania.
Core Legislation for Digital Accessibility
Romania's framework is built upon three key pieces of legislation:
- Ordonanța de Urgență (OUG) nr. 112/2018: This is the primary law that transposes the EU's Web Accessibility Directive into Romanian law. It mandates that all websites and mobile applications operated by public sector bodies (such as central and local governments) must be accessible.
- Legea nr. 90 din 6 mai 2019: This law formally approves and reinforces the emergency ordinance (OUG 112/2018), cementing the accessibility obligations for public sector entities and, by extension, any private companies that provide digital products to them.
- Legea nr. 232 din 19 iulie 2022: This is the most significant law for the private sector. It transposes the European Accessibility Act (EAA) into national legislation. As of June 28, 2025, this law requires a wide range of consumer products and services to be fully accessible.
Who and What Is Covered by Law 232/2022?
This law extends accessibility requirements to private businesses operating in critical sectors, including :
- E-commerce websites and mobile apps
- Consumer banking services
- Computers, smartphones, and their operating systems
- E-books and e-readers
- Websites and ticketing machines for passenger transport
Like the EAA, it applies to any business offering these services to consumers in Romania, regardless of where the company is based.
Technical Standard and Enforcement
- Compliance Standard: Across all relevant legislation, the mandated technical standard for compliance is EN 301 549. As this standard incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA, conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA is the benchmark for digital accessibility in Romania.
- Enforcement: Enforcement is managed by several government bodies, including the Ministry of Communications and the National Authority for Consumer Protection (Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Consumatorilor, ANPC).
- Penalties: The penalties for non-compliance are substantial. Fines are calculated using a point-based system tied to the national minimum wage and can range from 6,000 to 15,000 lei (approximately €1,200 to €3,000) for private businesses. In addition to fines, authorities can order the withdrawal of a product from the market or the suspension of a service.
Navigating Compliance in Romania
With the EAA's requirements now fully in effect, Romanian authorities are actively monitoring the market. For businesses, this means that achieving and maintaining accessibility is not just a matter of good practice but a direct legal obligation. A proactive approach, including regular accessibility audits and a clear remediation strategy, is the only way to ensure compliance.
Wawsome’s platform provides the tools to align your digital assets with EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards, simplifying your path to compliance in the Romanian market.