EN 301 549
EN 301 549 is the European standard for accessibility requirements for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) products and services. It is the technical standard underpinning the EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which applies to both public sector bodies and private companies operating in the EU.
Overview
🇪🇺 Who Must Comply
- • EU public sector bodies (since 2018)
- • Private companies selling to EU public sector
- • Businesses under the European Accessibility Act
- • E-commerce, banking, transport, media services
📋 What It Covers
- • Websites and mobile applications
- • Desktop and mobile software
- • Hardware and self-service terminals
- • Documents and electronic content
Key Dates: The EU Web Accessibility Directive required public sector compliance from 2018–2020. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) extends requirements to the private sector, with enforcement beginning June 28, 2025.
Relationship to WCAG
EN 301 549 incorporates WCAG as its core web content requirements. The version of WCAG referenced has evolved with each edition of the standard:
| EN 301 549 Version | Year | WCAG Reference |
|---|---|---|
| v1.1.2 | 2015 | WCAG 2.0 AA |
| v2.1.2 | 2018 | WCAG 2.1 AA |
| v3.2.1 | 2021 | WCAG 2.1 AA |
| v4.x (current) | 2024 | WCAG 2.2 AA |
Key Chapters
EN 301 549 goes beyond WCAG by covering a broader range of ICT. Key chapters include:
Generic Requirements
Closed functionality, biometrics, preservation of accessibility info, privacy.
ICT with Two-Way Voice Communication
Real-time text, video telephony, caller ID accessibility.
ICT with Video Capabilities
Captions, audio description, user controls for captions.
Hardware
Physical controls, operable parts, display screen, keyboard, tactile indicators.
Web
Incorporates WCAG 2.x AA in full — the primary chapter for web compliance.
Non-Web Documents
Accessibility of PDFs, Office documents, and other electronic files.
Software
Desktop and mobile app accessibility, including platform services.
Documentation and Support Services
Accessible product documentation and customer support.
ICT Providing Relay or Emergency Services
Relay services and emergency communication accessibility.
European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The EAA (Directive 2019/882) requires private sector companies to make their products and services accessible. EN 301 549 is the harmonised standard used to demonstrate EAA compliance.
In Scope (EAA)
- • E-commerce websites and apps
- • Banking and financial services
- • Passenger transport services
- • Audiovisual media services
- • E-books and reading software
Exemptions
- • Microenterprises (under 10 employees)
- • Disproportionate burden cases
- • Fundamental alteration exceptions
ConformPilot & EN 301 549
ConformPilot supports EN 301 549 compliance auditing. Select EN 301 549 as your standard to generate a VPAT mapped to the European standard, suitable for EU procurement and EAA compliance.
- ✓ WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 AA automated testing (Chapter 9)
- ✓ EN 301 549 VPAT generation in DOCX format
- ✓ Violation mapping to EN 301 549 chapters
- ✓ Suitable for EU public procurement submissions
- ✓ EAA-ready compliance reports
- ⚠ Hardware and telephony chapters require manual assessment