A ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt caused a debate: Self-checkout tills do not have to be barrier-free if conventional staffed tills are available. However, the legal situation remains inconsistent. According to the Federal Ministry of Labor, the “buying goods” service is not covered by the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act, which will apply from June 2025 in Germany. Therefore, self-checkout systems do not necessarily have to be designed to be barrier-free.
The German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV) criticizes this loophole and demands that self-checkout systems should comply with European standards (EN 301549) for accessibility. Although the law covers card payment terminals, it does not cover other parts of the checkout technology. By 2026, all newly purchased card payment terminals in retail must be accessible.
There are also laws in other countries that are intended to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities and stipulate certain accessibility requirements. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, requires retail stores to remove barriers and create an accessible environment for people with disabilities. This includes lower service counters that make it easier for people with mobility aids to complete transactions. However, specifications for cash registers, self-service devices or checkout zones are usually missing.