The accessibility statement is a public document that every e-commerce service covered by the EAA must publish — typically at `/accessibilite`. It's often seen as a regulatory chore. That's a framing mistake: written well, it's your best piece of defence in case of a complaint; written badly, it turns against you, because it's legally binding.
The 4 mandatory sections
- 01Compliance status (full, partial, non-compliant) with the estimated rate
- 02Framework used (RGAA 4.1) and method (self-assessment or third-party audit)
- 03List of known non-compliant content, the reasons, and the remediation plan
- 04Accessibility contact point + means of appeal (the Défenseur des droits)
For the section-by-section detail and a copy-paste template, see our dedicated writing tutorial. Here, we focus on the angle that matters legally: why the honesty of the statement is your protection.
Why an honest statement protects you
A "partially compliant — 73%" statement backed by a dated remediation plan demonstrates an active approach: that's precisely what an authority looks for before dismissing a case. Conversely, a "fully compliant" statement contradicted by the first adversarial audit proves your negligence — and can tip the case onto the ground of misleading commercial practice.
✓ Honesty pays
A statement that owns up to "partially compliant — 73%" with a remediation plan is FAR BETTER than a "fully compliant" one that collapses under audit. A false statement doesn't soften the sanction: it aggravates it.
The 3 mistakes that turn the statement into a trap
- 01Claiming unverifiable full compliance — the lie is legally binding
- 02Copying the "compliant" statement auto-generated by an accessibility widget
- 03Listing an accessibility contact that never replies — it's the complainant's first test
⚠ The widget trap
Many overlays automatically display a "compliant site" statement in your footer. That's exactly the kind of claim the FTC sanctioned in the United States ($1M against AccessiBe in 2025). In Europe, the same logic applies on the ground of misleading commercial practices.
Frequently asked questions
Where should the statement be published?
On a stable, dedicated page, ideally `/accessibilite`, with a visible link in the footer of every page. Permanent access from each page is itself expected.
Do you need a third-party audit for the statement?
No, self-assessment is allowed — provided you state it as such. But in the event of a dispute, an independent, timestamped audit carries far more weight than a self-declaration.
How often should it be updated?
At every audit, and at least once a year. A statement whose date and rate are two years old sends the opposite signal to the one intended.
Our wizard pre-fills the 4 sections from your audit and generates a timestamped PDF:
→ See the wizard