Easy to read

OSAPS is the abbreviation for:

Office de la Surveillance de l’Accessibilité des Produits et Services.

This is French and means:

Office for Monitoring Accessibility

of Products and Services.

The OSAPS is an office.

The OSAPS ensures

that products and services are accessible.

For example: online banking services, electronic books

or Amazon services.

What is accessibility?

Everyone can get everywhere without any problems.

There are no barriers.

Nothing prevents you from getting where you want to go.

Unfortunately, there are still many barriers.

For example:

There are people who cannot read.

A website that only contains text is a barrier for these people.

The website is accessible if it contains videos.

Or if you can have the text read aloud.

What is a product?

A product is something you can buy.

What is a service?

Service is also called ‘Zerwiss’ in Luxembourgish.

This means that one person does something for others

and receives money in return.

For example: employees of a bank on the Internet, salespeople on the Internet, etc.

OSAPS ensures

that products and services are accessible.

This applies to products and services in Luxembourg.

Anyone can report a product to OSAPS

if it is not accessible.

This is required by law.

For example: An ATM has

no connection for headphones.

OSAPS then checks the product.

OSAPS also checks services.

Anyone can report a service

if it is not accessible.

For example: buying something online is too complicated.

OSAPS checks whether certain rules are being followed.

OSAPS provides tips on where to find information

if you have a problem with accessibility.

There is a new law.

The law was passed on 8 March 2023.

The law states:

Manufacturers of products must ensure

that their products are accessible.

As said in the law.

People who offer information and services on the internet

must ensure that the services are accessible.

As said in the law.

The law applies to computer hardware and operating systems.

The law applies to machines that people use themselves.

• Payment machines.

For example: machines at the checkout in a supermarket.

• Cash machines (ATMs).

You can insert your bank card into these machines.

Then you receive money.

• Ticket machines.

For example, for the train.

• Check-in machines.

For example, at the airport.

• Machines that are there to provide information.

Customers can search for the information

they need themselves.

For example: Live Paper.

The law does not apply to machines in vehicles.

For example: navigation systems (GPS) in cars.

The law applies to communication devices.

Devices are machines.

These are devices that you can use to

• talk to other people

• send messages.

For example, mobile phones or computers.

The law also applies to interactive devices.

For example: Alexa or Smart TV.

The law also applies to devices

that can be used to read books electronically.

For example, on the Kindle, Tolino...

The law applies to computer hardware and operating systems.

The law applies to machines that people use themselves.

• Payment machines.

For example: machines at the checkout in a supermarket.

• Cash machines (ATMs).

You can insert your bank card into these machines.

Then you receive money.

• Ticket machines.

For example, for the train.

• Check-in machines.

For example, at the airport.

• Machines that are there to provide information.

Customers can search for the information

they need themselves.

For example: Live Paper.

The law does not apply to machines in vehicles.

For example: Satnav (GPS) in cars.

The law applies to communication devices.

Devices are machines.

These are devices that you can use to

• talk to other people

• send messages.

For example, mobile phones or computers.

The law also applies to interactive devices.

For example: Alexa or Smart TV.

The law also applies to devices

that can be used to read books electronically.

For example, on the Kindle, etc.

What is an operating system?

The operating system is a program on the computer.

It tells the hardware what to do.

For example: Start the computer.

Or: Display this website.

What is interactive?

Interactive means:

You can talk to the devices or touch them.

The devices then respond.

The law applies to electronic communication services.

The law applies to audio-visual services.

These services allow you to watch videos.

Or listen to audio.

For example: music, podcasts, news...

For example: Tango TV, RTL Play, 100.7 Mediathek...

The law applies to bus, train and tram websites.

For example: www.mobiliteit.lu or www.cfl.lu .

Or when you buy a ticket online.

The law applies to banking services on the internet.

For example, transferring money.

The law applies to online shops.

This means buying things on the internet.

For example, ordering clothes online.

The law applies to emergency numbers.

If you call these numbers, you will receive help.

From the police, the fire brigade or an ambulance.

The numbers are 112 and 113.

What are electronic communication services?

They help people talk to each other

or send messages.

It is not enough to just have the device (mobile phone or tablet).

You also need a contract (subscription)

with a communications provider.

For example, Tango, Orange, Post.

What is audio-visual?

Audio means everything you can hear.

Visual means everything you can see.

The law applies to everyone from 28 June 2025.

From this date onwards, the law must be respected.

For example: when selling something or providing a service.

However, there are exceptions.

For example: if it concerns a very expensive machine.

Or if the company is small and cannot afford the changes.

Or if the contract has already been signed.

A company or manufacturer does not want to give information.

However, the OSAPS needs this information

to monitor a product or a company.

Or the company or manufacturer is preventing the OSAPS from doing its job.

In this case, the OSAPS can make the company or manufacturer pay a fine.

The fine can range from 250 euros to 15.000 euros.