1. Current Status: What Applies in Switzerland Today?
Switzerland has had the Disability Equality Act (BehiG, SR 151.3) since 2004 — one of Europe’s oldest equality laws. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and covers access to services. But there’s a significant gap in digital accessibility:
✅ Public authorities: Already obligated
Federal authorities, cantons, municipalities, and federal enterprises must make their websites accessible per the eCH-0059 Standard v3.0 (based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA) since the BehiG partial revision of June 28, 2025. Existing websites have until 2030 to comply. The responsible body is the FOGE (Federal Office for the Equality of People with Disabilities / EBGB).
❌ Private businesses: No direct legal obligation yet
Online shops, banks, e-commerce platforms, and software providers in Switzerland are currently not directly required by the BehiG to make their websites accessible. This is expected to change in 2027 (see Section 2).
⚠️ However: Art. 6 BehiG & UN CRPD
Even the current BehiG offers leverage: Art. 6 BehiG prohibits private discrimination in publicly offered services. Art. 8(2) BehiG grants affected individuals a right to remediation. Switzerland also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in 2014.
Whether an inaccessible online shop constitutes discrimination under Art. 6 BehiG hasn’t been decided by the highest court — but the trend is clear.
The sobering reality: According to a study by valantic & AIOPS (2024), only 17% of Swiss online shops are accessibly usable. According to the Federal Statistical Office (BFS, 2017), approximately 1.7 million people in Switzerland live with a disability — 22% of the population aged 15+.
2. The BehiG Revision: What's Coming in 2027?
On December 23, 2024, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch for the partial revision of the BehiG. On March 28, 2025, the WBK-N (National Council Committee for Science, Education and Culture) voted unanimously to proceed. Planned effective date: January 1, 2027.
The four key changes:
Extension to the private sector
For the first time, all providers of publicly accessible commercial and cultural services will be covered — including digital services. This includes: online shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, banks, retailers, apps, and software.
“Reasonable accommodations” concept (Art. 2(5) E-BehiG)
Providers will be required to take reasonable measures to prevent or eliminate disadvantages. Aligned with the UN CRPD and EU practice. Disproportionate burden can be claimed as an exception — but must be documented.
Binding minimum standards (Federal Council authority)
The Federal Council will have authority to set binding minimum standards for digital accessibility by ordinance, aligned with international and European standards (WCAG 2.1/2.2, EN 301 549).
Micro-enterprise exemption
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and under CHF 2M revenue will likely be exempt for digital services — analogous to the EU regulation.
🗓️ BehiG Revision Timeline
✓
Dec 23, 2024: Federal Council adopts dispatch for partial revision
✓
Mar 28, 2025: WBK-N votes unanimously to proceed
→
2025/2026: Parliamentary deliberation (National Council and Council of States)
○
Jan 1, 2027: Planned effective date (~18 months preparation time)
3. EAA Obligation: Why Swiss Shops Are Already Affected
Even though the BehiG doesn’t directly obligate private businesses yet — the European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been in effect across all 27 EU member states since June 28, 2025. And it affects Swiss companies too:
If you sell to EU customers, the EAA applies — even with Swiss headquarters
The EAA targets all businesses offering products or services in the EU single market — regardless of company location. This specifically affects Swiss companies that:
• Operate an online shop that ships to customers in Germany, Austria, or other EU countries
• Offer a booking platform usable by EU citizens
• Provide banking or financial services to EU customers
• Distribute software or apps to EU end users
The enforcement risk is real: In Germany, fines reach €100,000 (§37 BFSG); in Austria, €80,000 (BaFG). Since August 2025, the German law firm CLAIM RA has been systematically sending cease-and-desist letters (~€595 each). There’s no geographic filter — a Swiss shop shipping to Germany with missing alt text can be targeted just like a German one.
What this means concretely for Swiss shops with EU business:
✓ Alt text for all informative images per WCAG 2.1 AA
✓ Accessibility statement published on your website
✓ Technical documentation created and retained
✓ Conformity assessment (self-assessment suffices)
4. Who's Affected? Three Scenarios
The EAA applies to anyone active in the EU market. Alt text, keyboard navigation, color contrast — everything must meet WCAG 2.1 AA. Fines apply in every EU country you ship to. Plus: documentation requirements and accessibility statement.
If your business offers publicly accessible commercial services (online shop, booking, banking), you’ll be covered after the BehiG revision. Already possible today: mediation proceedings under Art. 8 BehiG.
Under 10 employees AND under CHF 2M revenue? Probably exempt from the BehiG obligation. But: Art. 6 BehiG and the UN CRPD still establish a general anti-discrimination principle. And alt text costs nearly nothing, boosts your SEO, and reaches 1.7 million potential customers.
5. Alt Text Requirements & Accessibility Statement
Whether via the EAA (for EU business) or the upcoming BehiG revision (for the Swiss market) — the technical standard is the same: WCAG 2.1 Level AA (referenced via eCH-0059 v3.0 in Switzerland, via EN 301 549 in the EU).
✓ Every informative image needs descriptive alt text (80-125 characters recommended)
✓ Decorative images get an empty alt attribute: alt=""
✓ Linked images describe the link target
✓ Text in images (banners, infographics) must be reproduced in alt text
✓ No image without alt attribute — missing attribute is always a violation
✓ No keyword stuffing — natural, descriptive language
✓ Multilingual alt text — in each language version (DE, FR, IT, EN)
Accessibility statement (mandatory for EU business)
Required contents
Scope (which website/app) • Conformance status • Assessment basis (e.g. WCAG 2.1 AA) • Known limitations with justification • Feedback contact • Date of last update
Technical documentation (mandatory for EU business)
What must be documented
Description of the digital offering • Applied standards (EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1) • Audits conducted and results • Conformity assessment (self-assessment suffices) • Retention period: 10 years
Tip for Swiss businesses: AutoAlt.ai’s processing history (which images were given alt text, when, by which tool) serves as documented compliance evidence — valuable for both EU authorities and the upcoming BehiG revision.
→ Full guide: What Is Alt Text? 10 Rules + Examples
6. Enforcement: Fines, Mediation & Lawsuits
In Switzerland, there are multiple enforcement paths today and in the future — depending on whether you fall under the EAA or the BehiG:
Path 1: EAA fines (for EU business — applies now)
If you sell to EU customers, you’re subject to the national fines of each EU country:
🇩🇪 Germany: Up to €100,000 + cease-and-desist letters (~€595 each)
🇦🇹 Austria: Up to €80,000 + BGStG mediation
🇫🇷 France: Up to €250,000 (4 retailers sued, Nov 2025)
🇪🇸 Spain: Up to €1,000,000
There’s no “Swiss protection” — if your shop ships to Germany without WCAG compliance, you can be targeted.
Path 2: BehiG mediation (already available today)
Even without the revision, affected individuals can act: Art. 8 BehiG grants a right to remediation and injunctive relief.
• Mediation: At the FOGE/EBGB or cantonal mediation offices. Free for the complainant.
• Lawsuit: If mediation fails, the affected person can sue in civil court. A class action right for disability organizations is under discussion.
• Damages: Possible for proven discrimination under Art. 6 BehiG.
Path 3: BehiG revision fines (from 2027)
The exact fine amounts in the revised BehiG haven’t been set yet. Reference points from neighboring countries:
€80,000
Austria (BaFG)
large enterprises
€100,000
Germany (BFSG)
flat rate
CHF ?
Switzerland
TBD
7. Switzerland vs. Germany vs. Austria
| Criterion | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇦🇹 Austria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law (EAA implementation) | BehiG (revision planned) | BFSG | BaFG |
| Private obligation since | Planned: Jan 1, 2027 | Jun 28, 2025 | Jun 28, 2025 |
| Technical standard | eCH-0059 v3.0 / WCAG 2.1 AA | EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA | EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA |
| EAA for EU business | Yes, since Jun 28, 2025 | Direct (BFSG) | Direct (BaFG) |
| Max. fine | TBD (BehiG rev.) | €100,000 | €80,000 / €50k / €25k |
| Mediation | Yes (EBGB / cantonal) | Not provided | Yes (SMS / BGStG) |
| Accessible shops (%) | ~17% | ~25-30% (est.) | ~20% (est.) |
| Accessibility statement | If EU business: required | Required (BFSG) | Required (§14 BaFG) |
Bottom line: Switzerland is currently the mildest — but the window is closing. If you sell to EU customers, you’re fully affected today. If you only operate in Switzerland, you have about 18 months. In both cases: act now, avoid stress in 2027, and benefit immediately from better SEO and more reach.
8. Comply in 24 Hours: Step by Step
Whether you need to act now because of the EAA or are preparing for the BehiG revision — the path is the same:
- Chrome → F12 → Lighthouse → Accessibility. Scan your 10 most important pages. For most Swiss shops: 60-80% of alt text is missing.
- Available for WordPress/WooCommerce, Shopware, Joomla, and Drupal. 50 credits/month free, EU servers, GDPR-compliant.
- For multilingual Swiss shops: set target languages (DE, FR, IT, EN). AutoAlt.ai generates alt text in all languages — 1 credit = 1 image in all language versions. Compatible with WPML and Polylang.
- Launch the bulk alt text generator 1,000 images ≈ 30-60 minutes. Larger shops overnight. Processing runs in the background.
- Review 20-30 generated alt texts in each language. Edits cost no credits.
- Publish an accessibility statement in your footer. Even if you only sell in Switzerland: it's best practice and prepares you for 2027.
- All images have alt text in all languages. Processing history serves as documentation. Accessibility statement is published. You're covered for both the EAA and the upcoming BehiG.
For Swiss online shops: Prepare now instead of retrofitting in 2027
AutoAlt.ai generates alt text via AI in DE, FR, IT & EN — GDPR-compliant, EU servers, Made in Germany. 50 credits/month free.
9. 5 Reasons Not to Wait Until 2027
1. The EAA already applies — for EU business
If you sell to customers in Germany, Austria, or other EU countries, you’ve been obligated since June 2025. German cease-and-desist letters don’t respect borders.
2. SEO advantage: 22% more traffic
22.6% of all Google searches are image searches. With only 17% of Swiss shops being accessible, you have an enormous competitive advantage if you act now — your 83% of competitors haven’t.
3. 1.7 million potential customers
1.7 million people with disabilities live in Switzerland (BFS, 2017). 29% of the population reports permanent daily limitations. That’s not a niche — it’s nearly a third of your target audience.
4. Alt text costs practically nothing
50 credits/month free. Pro Pack: CHF 45 for 1,000 images in all languages. Manual cost for 4 languages: 1,000 images × 4 × 3 min × CHF 120/hr = ~CHF 24,000. AI saves over 99%.
5. Swiss multilingualism as a strength
Swiss shops are often tri- or quadrilingual (DE/FR/IT/EN). AutoAlt.ai generates alt text in all languages with one credit per image — a decisive cost advantage versus manual writing and translation.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Is alt text legally required in Switzerland?
For public authorities: yes, since the BehiG partial revision of Jun 28, 2025 (eCH-0059/WCAG 2.1 AA). For private businesses: not yet directly, but the BehiG revision is expected Jan 1, 2027. If you sell to EU customers, you’re already obligated via the EAA — including alt text, accessibility statement, and documentation.
Does the EAA apply to Swiss companies?
Yes, if you offer products or services to customers in EU countries. The EAA targets all businesses active in the EU single market — regardless of headquarters. A Swiss online shop shipping to Germany must meet BFSG requirements.
Can a Swiss company receive a cease-and-desist from Germany?
Yes, if you sell to German consumers. The law firm CLAIM RA checks whether the shop serves German customers, not the company’s registered address. Missing alt text is automatically detectable and among the most common grounds.
What is the FOGE/EBGB?
The Federal Office for the Equality of People with Disabilities (EBGB) is Switzerland’s central agency for disability policy, part of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI). It coordinates BehiG implementation and handles mediation proceedings.
When is the BehiG revision coming?
Planned: January 1, 2027. The WBK-N voted unanimously to proceed in March 2025. Parliamentary deliberation runs through 2025/2026. A key element is the “reasonable accommodations” concept that will require providers to take feasible measures.
Do I need an accessibility statement?
If you sell to EU customers: yes, it’s an EAA requirement. If Swiss-only: not yet legally required, but recommended as best practice and preparation for the BehiG revision 2027.
What does compliance cost for multilingual Swiss shops?
With AutoAlt.ai: 1 credit = 1 image in all languages (DE, FR, IT, EN). 50 credits/month free. Pro Pack: CHF 45 for 1,000 images. Manual cost for 4 languages: 1,000 × 4 × 3 min × CHF 120/hr = ~CHF 24,000. AI saves over 99% of costs.
What is the eCH-0059 standard?
The Swiss standard for digital accessibility, version 3.0. Based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Adopted as mandatory for the federal administration on May 21, 2021. Expected to become the reference standard for private businesses with the BehiG revision.
Can a person with a disability sue in Switzerland today?
In principle, yes. Art. 6 BehiG prohibits discrimination in publicly offered services. Art. 8(2) BehiG grants remediation rights. The first step is free mediation at the EBGB or cantonal offices. If that fails, a civil lawsuit is possible. Whether missing alt text qualifies as “discrimination” under Art. 6 hasn’t been decided by the highest court — but the trend is clear.
Is accessibility worth it even without a legal requirement?
Yes, for three reasons: SEO (22% more traffic through image search), reach (1.7M people with disabilities + 29% with daily limitations in Switzerland), and future-proofing (the BehiG revision is definitely coming). Act now, avoid stress in 2027, benefit from better rankings today.
Alt Text for Swiss Shops — Multilingual, Ready Immediately
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