China Web Accessibility (Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law and GB/T 37668)
China's first dedicated accessibility statute - the Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law - took effect on September 1, 2023, and elevates information accessibility (including websites, apps and self-service technology) to a national legal requirement, with government bodies, public services and key internet platforms leading the obligations. The technical reference is GB/T 37668-2019, China's national web accessibility standard modeled on WCAG, and the MIIT has run enforcement-backed retrofit campaigns since 2020 requiring hundreds of major websites and apps to add accessibility features, with age-friendly and barrier-free versions now standard among leading Chinese platforms.
What is China BFEC Law / GB/T 37668?
The Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law (Wuzhang'ai Huanjing Jianshe Fa) is China's umbrella accessibility statute, covering the built environment, transport, services and - in a dedicated chapter - information accessibility: government information, emergency information, internet services, smart terminals and telecommunications must be progressively made accessible to persons with disabilities and older adults. Technical implementation leans on GB/T 37668-2019, 'Information technology - Requirements and testing methods for accessibility of web content' - a national standard closely modeled on WCAG's principles, guidelines and testable requirements. Alongside the law, the MIIT's Internet Application Accessibility and Aging-Friendly campaigns (from 2020) directed named lists of major websites and mobile apps to implement accessibility retrofits, publish accessible/elderly modes, and pass evaluation - a compliance mechanism with real teeth through supervision, evaluation results and public reporting.
Who must comply?
Government bodies and public institutions first: e-government portals, public-service platforms, emergency information and public cultural services carry the strongest duties. Major internet platforms and telecommunications providers are pulled in through the law's internet-accessibility provisions and MIIT campaign lists (e-commerce, news, social, banking, travel and utility apps). Foreign companies operating consumer platforms in the Chinese market fall under the same expectations for their China-facing properties; enterprises serving older users are additionally covered by the aging-friendly requirements that run in parallel.
Key requirements
- Make government and public-service websites, apps and information channels accessible, including emergency information in accessible formats.
- Follow GB/T 37668-2019 - WCAG-modeled requirements and testing methods - as the technical benchmark for web content accessibility.
- Major internet platforms named in MIIT campaigns: implement accessibility retrofits, provide barrier-free/aging-friendly modes, and pass the ministry's evaluation.
- Self-service terminals and smart devices used in public services must offer accessible interaction modes.
- Progressively retrofit existing digital services; new public-facing services should be accessible from launch.
Key dates & deadlines
Penalties & enforcement
The law works through administrative supervision: responsible departments can order correction of violations, and continued non-compliance draws administrative penalties under the law and adjacent regulations; MIIT campaign compliance is enforced through evaluation, rectification orders and public reporting. Procurators can also bring public-interest litigation over accessibility failures - a mechanism already used since the law took effect - and for consumer platforms, exclusion from the ministry's compliant-app lists carries direct commercial cost.
How China BFEC Law / GB/T 37668 relates to WCAG
GB/T 37668-2019 is modeled on WCAG's structure - perceivable, operable, understandable, robust - with testable requirements that map closely to WCAG success criteria. International organizations typically run one WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA program and treat GB/T conformance as a mapped output of it, which is exactly how EqualWeb structures audits for China-facing properties.
How EqualWeb helps you meet China BFEC Law / GB/T 37668
EqualWeb runs one WCAG-based program that maps to GB/T 37668 for China-facing properties: auditing, AI plus expert remediation, accessible documents, and evaluation-ready reporting - so global brands cover the Chinese requirements from the same evidence base as the rest of the world.
China BFEC Law / GB/T 37668 - frequently asked questions
Does China have a web accessibility law?
What is GB/T 37668-2019?
Are private companies covered in China?
If we already meet WCAG, do we meet the Chinese requirements?
Related standards & laws
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