EN 301 549 is a European standard that sets out the requirements for making information and communication technology (ICT) products and services accessible to people with disabilities. It covers websites, software, hardware, and electronic devices to ensure that everyone can use these technologies easily. EN 301 549 draws much of its content from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide detailed instructions for making digital content more accessible. In fact, EN 301 549 often refers to WCAG standards as the benchmarks for web accessibility.
While EN 301 549 adopts WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA as its baseline, it adds extra requirements around:
- Documentation & Support
- Websites must be accompanied by accessible documentation (user guides, help content).
- Customer support channels (chat, phone, email) must also be accessible.
- Interoperability
- Web content must work with assistive technologies (screen readers, voice input, magnifiers)
- WCAG implies this, but EN 301 549 makes it explicit and testable.
- Web content must work with assistive technologies (screen readers, voice input, magnifiers)
- Non-Web ICT Integration
- If a website is part of a larger ICT product/service (e.g., banking platform, e-commerce system), accessibility must extend to transaction flows, authentication, and multimedia players.
This standard is closely linked to the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The EAA requires companies to make many products and services—like computers, smartphones, e-books, websites, and banking services—accessible to people with disabilities. EN 301 549 provides the technical details and practical criteria that organizations must follow to meet the accessibility goals set out in the EAA. Together, EN 301 549, WCAG, and the EAA work to promote equal access and inclusivity across Europe.