What does Law 232/2022 stipulate?
Law no. 232/2022 regulates the access of people with disabilities to the physical, informational, and communication environment. It imposes obligations on public institutions, companies, and NGOs to ensure accessibility to essential spaces and services so that people with disabilities can benefit from equal rights. Additionally, the law promotes the use of assistive technologies and accessibility standards for websites and electronic documents.
What does accessibility mean?
Accessibility refers to the process of removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and using various services, products, or digital content. This can include adapting infrastructure, providing visual or auditory alternatives, and implementing web accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
How can we create accessible content?
To ensure accessible digital content, it is necessary to follow a set of best practices:
- Using an appropriate contrast between text and background;
- Adding alternative descriptions (alt text) for images;
- Creating subtitles and transcripts for audio/video content;
- Ensuring easy keyboard navigation and compatibility with screen readers;
- Avoiding the exclusive use of colors to convey information;
- Maintaining a clear and logical content structure (headings, lists, descriptive links).
What are the business benefits of accessible content?
Implementing accessible content offers multiple advantages for businesses, including:
- Increased audience reach – content becomes accessible to a larger number of users, including people with disabilities;
- Improved SEO – search engines favor websites that comply with accessibility standards;
- Legal compliance – avoiding penalties for failing to meet accessibility regulations;
- Enhanced reputation – brands that promote inclusion are perceived more positively by consumers;
- Better user experience – clearer and more intuitive navigation leads to greater engagement.
What does the digital accessibility kit include?
A digital accessibility kit is a set of resources and tools designed to facilitate the creation and implementation of accessible content. It may include:
- Guides and checklists for complying with accessibility standards;
- Templates for accessible documents;
- Plugins and software for checking website accessibility;
- Platforms for testing compatibility with screen readers;
- Tutorials for creating accessible multimedia content.
Digital accessibility is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial step toward inclusion and the development of a user-friendly digital environment for all.
Services covered by the law after June 28, 2025:
This law applies to the following consumer services provided after June 28, 2025:
- Electronic communication services, except for transmission services used for device-to-device (machine-to-machine) communication;
- Services providing access to audiovisual media content;
- Consumer banking services;
- E-books and dedicated software;
- E-commerce services.
Products covered by the law after June 28, 2025:
Additionally, the law applies to the following products introduced on the market after June 28, 2025:
- General-purpose hardware systems for consumers and their operating systems;
- Consumer terminals with interactive computing capabilities used for electronic communications services;
- Consumer terminals with interactive computing capabilities used for access to audiovisual media services;
- E-readers;
- Self-service payment terminals, such as ATMs, ticket vending machines, check-in kiosks, and interactive self-service terminals providing information—excluding terminals integrated as components of vehicles, aircraft, ships, or rail rolling stock.
Exemptions from the law:
The law does not apply to the following website and mobile application content:
- Pre-recorded time-based media content published before June 28, 2025;
- Office file formats published before June 28, 2025;
- Online maps and mapping services, provided that essential information is available in an accessible digital format for navigation purposes;
- Third-party content that is not funded, developed, or controlled by the business operator;
- Archived website and mobile application content, meaning content that is neither updated nor edited after June 28, 2025.
Law enforcement timeline:
The law will come into effect on June 28, 2025, except for provisions related to emergency calls, which will take effect on June 28, 2027. However, as an exception, service providers may continue offering services using the products they used for similar services before this date until June 28, 2030. Service contracts signed before June 28, 2025, will remain valid without modifications until they expire, but for no more than five years.
Penalties
Failure to comply with this law may result in fines ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 RON. In addition to imposing a fine, the enforcement officer may propose one of the following complementary measures:
- Withdrawal or recall of the product from the market if the economic operator does not immediately take corrective actions to ensure product compliance;
- Suspension of the producer’s, distributor’s, or importer’s activity for the duration of non-compliance with the law;
- Suspension or revocation of the license, permit, or authorization to operate during non-compliant business practices.
Market surveillance authorities
Depending on the products and services provided to consumers, the following authorities are designated to oversee compliance:
- National Authority for Consumer Protection
- Ministry of Economy
- National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications
- Authority for the Digitization of Romania
- National Audiovisual Council
- Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
- Competition Council
Compliance requirements from June 28, 2025
Starting June 28, 2025, businesses must ensure compliance with digital accessibility requirements. The compliance process may involve:
- Assessing and adjusting digital infrastructure;
- Evaluating risks;
- Implementing necessary solutions to avoid potential penalties.
A clear understanding of the legislation and proper implementation of accessibility measures will not only ensure compliance but also enhance the user experience.
Digital accessibility is not just a legal obligation—it is a crucial step toward inclusion and creating a more user-friendly digital environment for everyone.
Let’s get in touch if you want to know how this law impacts your business!