BITV – Accessibility Glossary

What is the BITV?

The BITV 2.0 (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung) is the German federal ordinance that, based on the Disability Equality Act (BGG), sets out how federal public bodies must make their websites, mobile applications and electronically supported administrative processes accessible. Private companies are not generally addressed by this ordinance.

In short: BITV 2.0 is addressed to federal public bodies. Its technical benchmark is the harmonised standard EN 301 549 cited in the EU Official Journal, currently version 3.2.1, which adopts WCAG 2.1 level AA for web content.

Definition

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs issued BITV 2.0 on 12 September 2011; according to gesetze-im-internet.de it was last amended in October 2023. Together with sections 12a to 12c BGG, it implements Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies. The ordinance text is available at gesetze-im-internet.de (German).

Who is affected?

• Federal public bodies within the meaning of section 12 BGG, i.e. federal public authorities as well as certain federal-linked institutions and associations. Covered are websites, mobile applications, electronically supported administrative processes and graphical user interfaces (section 2 BITV 2.0).
• Bodies under section 12 no. 2 and 3 BGG that offer no services essential to the public are exempt from these duties (section 12a(5) BGG).
• Authorities of the federal states and municipalities are subject to their own state rules.
• Private companies are not addressed by BITV 2.0. For certain products and services of private providers, the BFSG has applied since 28 June 2025 (implementing the European Accessibility Act). Service providers working for federal bodies may meet the requirements in tenders, because section 12a(3) BGG requires accessibility to be considered during planning, development, tendering and procurement.

Requirements and standards

Under section 3 BITV 2.0, offerings must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. Compliance is presumed if they meet harmonised standards cited in the Official Journal of the European Union. According to the Bundesfachstelle Barrierefreiheit, this is currently EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021); for web content it corresponds to WCAG 2.1 level AA. Where standards do not cover a requirement, the state of the art applies. For central navigation and entry points and interactive offerings such as forms, the highest possible level of accessibility should be aimed for.

Outlook: EN 301 549 V4.1.1 was published on 2 September 2026 and is based on WCAG 2.2 for web content. The version cited in the Official Journal is EN 301 549 v3.2.1 (Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339). V4.1.1, published on 2 September 2026, is not yet cited there according to Deque, so it creates no presumption of conformity yet; Deque names about 30 November 2026 as the target for citation, which is not a confirmed date. For new projects it can make sense to consider WCAG 2.2 already.

Accessibility statement and feedback

• Federal public bodies publish an accessibility statement (section 12b BGG, section 7 BITV 2.0) that is reachable from every page.
• It contains, where applicable, the parts that are not accessible with reasons and alternatives, an accessible way to make contact (feedback mechanism) and a notice with a link to the arbitration body.
• The body responds to messages sent through the feedback mechanism within one month at the latest (section 12b(4) BGG).
• The statement must be updated annually and after every substantial change (section 7(6) BITV 2.0).

Easy Language and German Sign Language

Under section 4 BITV 2.0, explanations in German Sign Language and Easy Language must be provided on the home page of a website: information on the essential content, navigation hints, an explanation of the accessibility statement and references to further offerings in these forms. The ordinance requires this for the home page, not across the board for all content.

Exemptions

Section 2(2) BITV 2.0 excludes certain content, such as reproductions of items from heritage collections under certain conditions, archives not needed for active administrative procedures and not updated after 23 September 2019, and content of federal-law broadcasters serving their public broadcasting mandate. In addition, federal public bodies may exceptionally refrain from accessible design to the extent they would be disproportionately burdened (section 12a(6) BGG). This must be stated and justified in the accessibility statement (section 12b(2) BGG).

Oversight, advice and enforcement

• Federal Monitoring Body for the Accessibility of Information Technology: It periodically monitors whether websites and mobile applications of federal public bodies meet the requirements (section 13(3) BGG).
• Federal Agency for Accessibility (Bundesfachstelle Barrierefreiheit): central point of contact and initial advice for federal public authorities (section 13(2) BGG).
• BGG arbitration body: out-of-court procedure, free of charge for the parties (section 16 BGG).
• Association action: Recognised associations can, under certain conditions, bring an action after an unsuccessful arbitration procedure (section 15 BGG).

Relevance for your TYPO3 website

Do you maintain the TYPO3 website of a federal body? In practice a three-step approach works well: an audit against the test criteria, fixing the defects found, and a repeat check with a documented result. Update the accessibility statement regularly. Our TYPO3 Agency supports the implementation; for background see TYPO3 accessibility, and for testing tips the article on testing.

Sources

• BITV 2.0 (gesetze-im-internet.de, German)
• BGG (gesetze-im-internet.de, German)
• Directive (EU) 2016/2102 (EUR-Lex)
• Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339 (EUR-Lex)
• Deque: EN 301 549 V4.1.1 is final
• Bundesfachstelle Barrierefreiheit: Die neue BITV 2.0 (German)

Status: 27 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. For binding advice, please consult a qualified lawyer.