Stanca Law (Italy)
Legge Stanca
Introduction
Italy’s Stanca Law is the country’s primary legislation on digital accessibility.
Introduced in 2004 (Law No. 4/2004), it establishes accessibility requirements for digital services provided by public sector organizations and certain private entities.
The law has been updated over time and now operates alongside more recent European and national legislation, including the European Accessibility Act and its Italian implementation through Legislative Decree no. 82/2022.
What is the Stanca Law?
The Stanca Law defines accessibility requirements for websites, mobile applications, and digital services used by public administrations and entities providing public services.
It is supported by technical guidelines issued by the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID), which translate accessibility requirements into testable criteria.
These requirements are based on:
WCAG principles
national implementation rules and testing approaches
Current requirements align with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
Legal framework and standards
Accessibility obligations in Italy are based on multiple layers of legislation and standards.
These include:
Stanca Law (Law No. 4/2004)
AgID accessibility guidelines
EN 301 549
Legislative Decree no. 82/2022 (implementation of the European Accessibility Act)
In practice:
WCAG defines accessibility requirements
EN 301 549 provides the European standard
the Stanca Law defines national obligations for public sector and large private companies accessibility
Legislative Decree no. 82/2022 extends accessibility requirements to specific private sector services under the EAA
Which organizations must comply with the Stanca Law?
The scope of the Stanca Law extends beyond public administration and includes several types of organizations.
Public sector organizations
Accessibility requirements apply to:
government administrations
municipalities and local authorities
public institutions
healthcare organizations
educational institutions
These organizations must ensure that their websites, mobile applications, and digital services are accessible.
Publicly controlled and service organizations
The law also applies to:
companies where public bodies hold a majority stake
service providers acting on behalf of public administrations
organizations delivering public services through digital platforms
Accessibility requirements apply when services are used directly by the public.
Large private companies
The Stanca Law also extends to companies with an average annual turnover exceeding €500 million.
These organizations are expected to ensure that their digital services are accessible, particularly when they provide services to the public at scale.
Private sector (expanding scope)
In addition, organizations may be subject to accessibility requirements under the European Accessibility Act and it’s implementation through Legislative Decree no. 82/2022, regardless of Stanca Law thresholds.
Supervisory authorities
Accessibility compliance in Italy is overseen by:
the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID)
AgID is responsible for:
issuing accessibility guidelines
monitoring compliance
collecting accessibility declarations
overseeing reporting obligations
Public organizations are required to regularly report on the accessibility of their digital services.
Accessibility statement requirements
Organizations subject to the Stanca Law must publish an accessibility statement.
This statement must include:
the level of compliance
known accessibility issues
planned improvements
a contact channel for reporting issues
The accessibility statement must be updated annually.
Organizations must also provide a contact point for accessibility, allowing users to report issues or request accessible alternatives.
What happens if you do not comply?
Failure to comply may lead to enforcement actions.
Authorities may:
review accessibility compliance
require organizations to correct accessibility barriers
monitor accessibility declarations and reporting obligations
Users can report accessibility issues through official channels. Complaints may trigger formal reviews.
What penalties can apply?
Sanctions may include administrative penalties and corrective measures.
Depending on the nature of the violation, authorities may:
impose financial penalties
require organizations to correct accessibility barriers
enforce compliance within a defined timeframe
Penalties vary based on the severity of the issue and the organization involved.
How Accessiway supports Stanca Law compliance
Accessiway supports organizations in meeting Stanca Law requirements through:
accessibility audits aligned with WCAG and Italian guidelines
automated accessibility monitoring
remediation guidance for development teams
accessibility training
continuous compliance monitoring
creating an accessibility statement
Learn more about how we support accessibility on our solutions page.
Accessibility becomes easier to manage when it is integrated into everyday digital processes.