Partnership with the Austrian E-Commerce Seal of Quality
Two established Austrian seals of quality have agreed to collavorate
Werner Rosenberger, project lead for WACA, welcomes the new partnership with the Austrian E-Commerce Seal of Quality. The collaboration aims to raise awareness of established quality standards in online retail while also strengthening legal certainty in the e-commerce sector. For certified websites, this can translate into increased traffic and higher conversion rates, ultimately driving revenue growth. Established quality seals can also help businesses reach their target audiences more effectively.
The Austrian E-Commerce Quality Seal stands for trustworthy online shopping and the reliable, legally compliant operation of webshops. Founded in 2000 as a non-profit association, it does not pursue commercial interests. It is supported by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Chamber of Labour, and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.
The WACA certification system, in turn, ensures compliance with international accessibility standards (WCAG) and makes digital accessibility visible to the public. Together, these two seals represent a higher benchmark for quality in e-commerce—benefiting not only webshop operators but, above all, customers.
Thorsten Behrens, Managing Director of the E-Commerce Quality Seal, explains:
“ The E-Commerce Quality Seal makes trustworthy providers instantly recognizable—and that benefits both sides. Online shoppers can feel confident purchasing from certified shops, as we thoroughly and regularly review our partners. Retailers should make the seal clearly visible if they want to leverage this advantage. Partnering with the WACA certification system is an excellent complement to this.”
Klaus Höckner, Chairman of the WACA Association and board member of the Austrian Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, adds:
“Access to information and digital services should work seamlessly for everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability or not—no one should be excluded. Through the WACA certification system, we assess digital accessibility and verify compliance with international standards. The collaboration between two established quality seals highlights the importance of raising quality standards in e-commerce.”
A new legal requirement for webshops will come into force in June 2025: they must be accessible to all users, meaning compliant with international accessibility standards. The European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882) was transposed into national law in summer 2023 and is known in Austria as the Accessibility Act (Barrierefreiheitsgesetz, BaFG).
The new regulation will apply to digital products and services offered across the European market, and specifically to online shops with annual revenues exceeding €2 million and companies with more than 10 employees. Ensuring accessibility should therefore be a top priority for webshop operators. Implementing improvements—or developing new accessible systems—typically requires a longer lead time.
Here you can find all partners of the E-Commerce Quality Seal.
