EN 301 549: The European ICT Accessibility Standard

EN 301 549 is the harmonized European standard that specifies the accessibility requirements for information and communications technology (ICT) products and services. It serves as the primary technical benchmark for compliance with the European Accessibility Act and is used across European public procurement as the standard against which products and services are evaluated.

What EN 301 549 Covers

Unlike WCAG, which focuses specifically on web content, EN 301 549 is a comprehensive standard covering the full spectrum of ICT accessibility:

Chapter 5: Generic requirements applicable to all ICT, including closed functionality, biometrics, and connected features.

Chapter 6: ICT with two-way voice communication — requirements for real-time text, caller identification, and video communication with sign language.

Chapter 7: ICT with video capabilities — requirements for captioning, audio description, and player controls.

Chapter 8: Hardware — requirements for physical products including standard connections, color, and physical access.

Chapter 9: Web content — directly references WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA success criteria. If your web content conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA, it meets the Chapter 9 requirements of EN 301 549.

Chapter 10: Non-web documents — applies WCAG criteria to documents such as PDFs, Word documents, and presentations.

Chapter 11: Non-web software — applies adapted WCAG criteria to native software applications, including mobile apps and desktop software.

Chapter 12: Documentation and support services — requirements for product documentation and customer support accessibility.

Chapter 13: ICT providing relay or emergency service access — specific requirements for communication services.

Relationship to WCAG

For web content (Chapter 9), EN 301 549 directly incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This means the web content requirements of EN 301 549 are identical to the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria. If your website already conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA, you have met the web content portion of EN 301 549.

The standard is expected to be updated to incorporate WCAG 2.2, which is why targeting WCAG 2.2 AA now positions you ahead of the curve.

For non-web documents and software (Chapters 10 and 11), EN 301 549 adapts the WCAG criteria to these contexts. The intent is the same — content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust — but the specific techniques differ for native applications and document formats.

Relationship to the EAA

EN 301 549 is a harmonized standard under the EAA. This means that conformance with EN 301 549 creates a legal "presumption of conformity" with the EAA's accessibility requirements. While organizations can demonstrate EAA compliance through other means, conforming to EN 301 549 is the most straightforward and legally defensible approach.

Practical Implications

For most organizations, the practical takeaway is this: if your website conforms to WCAG 2.2 Level AA, your web content meets the EN 301 549 requirements and is presumed to comply with the EAA. For mobile apps and other software, you will need to apply the adapted WCAG criteria from Chapter 11. For documents, you will need to ensure they meet the Chapter 10 requirements — which means accessible PDFs, Word documents, and other publications.

EN 301 549 also extends beyond what WCAG covers. If your organization provides communication services, hardware products, or customer support, additional chapters of the standard will apply. Review the full standard to determine which chapters are relevant to your products and services.