What You Need to Know About EN 301 549

Remember how GDPR transformed the way organisations handle data privacy worldwide? EN 301 549 is doing the same for digital accessibility right now.

This European standard sets out accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services – from websites and software to mobile apps and electronic documents. It’s mandatory for public sector bodies across the EU, and with the European Accessibility Act now in effect since June 2025, private organisations face the same requirements.

Here’s the reality: organisations that haven’t started their accessibility journey are already non-compliant. But there is good news – it’s not too late to catch up.

In this guide, we’ll break down what EN 301 549 actually means for your organisation, how it relates to standards you might already know (like WCAG), and most importantly, practical steps you can take today to achieve compliance and avoid potential penalties.

Let’s dive in.

EN 301 549 is a European standard that specifies accessibility requirements for ICT products and services. It was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in collaboration with CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization).

🤓 Did you know? EN 301 549 covers much more than just websites – it applies to software, electronic devices, mobile applications, documents, and even telecommunications equipment.

The standard has a unique “self-scoping” nature. This means organisations must determine which requirements apply to their specific products or services. Not every requirement will be relevant to your organisation, but it’s your responsibility to identify which ones are.

The latest version is EN 301 549 V3.2.1, published in March 2021. You can download the official standard document (PDF) directly from ETSI.

This version officially supports the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) since August 2021 through Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339. It incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements for web content.

Here’s what many organisations get confused about:

Since June 2025, authorities have been using EN 301 549 to verify compliance with the EAA.

The bottom line: If your product meets EN 301 549 standards, you’re meeting your legal obligations under the EAA.

Here’s where we stand now:

With the EAA now in effect, organisations that haven’t started their accessibility journey are already behind. The good news? It’s never too late to start, and getting compliant now means avoiding potential penalties whilst opening your products to millions more users.

When you’re compliant, you avoid tough penalties but also unlock a lot of great opportunities:

Smart organisations recognise that while their competitors scramble to meet minimum requirements, those who have already invested in accessibility expertise – through training like The A11Y Collective’s courses – are free to focus on innovation and growth.

If you’re already familiar with WCAG, here’s some good news – you’re halfway there.

EN 301 549 directly incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements in Chapter 9 (Web). Conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA is equivalent to meeting clauses 9.1 to 9.4 and the conformance requirements in clause 9.6 of EN 301 549.

Quick note: EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021) references WCAG 2.1, but future versions may incorporate WCAG 2.2 requirements.

WCAG focuses specifically on web content. EN 301 549 covers everything:

Both standards rest on the POUR principles:

Perceivable – Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive.
Operable – Interface components must be operable.
Understandable – Information and UI operation must be understandable.
Robust – Content must work with assistive technologies.

These principles ensure digital content works for people with various disabilities – from hearing and visual impairments to motor and cognitive disabilities.

Level AAA contains additional requirements that benefit users with disabilities but aren’t mandated. Why? They can’t be universally applied to all content types.

Getting compliant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s your step-by-step roadmap:

Start by understanding what you’re working towards. WCAG 2.1 AA forms the web portion of EN 301 549, but there’s more to know.

First, download the official EN 301 549 V3.2.1 document from ETSI. Yes, it’s 186 pages – but you don’t need to memorise it all.

🧠 Pro tip: Create a checklist of requirements relevant to your specific offerings. Not every requirement applies to every organisation.

Pay special attention to the “functional performance statements” in Chapter 4. These explain why technical requirements exist. Understanding the “why” helps you make better decisions when edge cases arise.

Time for an honest assessment. Conduct a gap analysis between your current digital assets and EN 301 549 requirements. This involves systematically comparing your current accessibility status against each applicable requirement. Start with high-traffic pages and critical user journeys, then work outwards. For detailed guidance on conducting accessibility assessments, check out how to perform an accessibility audit. This one is for the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the principle is the same, as it follows WCAG guidelines.  

Reality check: The best automated testing tools identify only about 30-40% of potential accessibility problems.

What catches the rest? Manual testing with:

Relying solely on automatic testing? That’s like checking your spelling but ignoring grammar.

🧠 Pro tip: Document everything in a compliance matrix. This becomes your single source of truth for what needs fixing.

Now you know what’s broken. Here’s how to fix it systematically:

Sometimes you need fresh eyes. Third-party expert audits catch issues internal teams miss.

Good auditors don’t just list problems – they provide prioritised remediation recommendations. Even better? Find auditors who include training, so your team learns while fixing issues.

Think of it as hiring a personal trainer. You could figure out fitness alone, but expert guidance gets you there faster and more effectively.

Remember step 1: familiarising yourself with accessibility standards? Here’s how to accelerate that learning curve.

The beauty of learning web accessibility properly is that the knowledge transfers across standards. When you understand why colour contrast matters for WCAG, you understand EN 301 549’s visual presentation requirements. It’s about building that foundational understanding.

The A11Y Collective offers targeted courses for every role in your team:

The best part? Self-paced learning means no disrupted schedules. Your team can upskill during quieter periods or between projects.

These aren’t theoretical lectures. You’ll learn practical techniques for making content work with screen readers, supporting users with cognitive disabilities, and implementing WCAG requirements – the foundation of EN 301 549’s web accessibility rules.

Added bonus: Accessibility knowledge doesn’t just help with compliance. It makes your team better at their jobs overall – Accessible code is cleaner code, and accessible design is clearer design.

Ready to build expertise that lasts? Explore The A11Y Collective’s business-focused accessibility courses and give your team the knowledge they need for sustainable compliance.

EN 301 549 compliance starts with understanding accessibility fundamentals. Without this knowledge, you’re building on shaky ground.

The A11Y Collective’s Web accessibility, the basics course provides exactly what teams need to meet EN 301 549 requirements confidently.

Don’t just take our word for it:

From understanding WCAG principles to implementing accessible forms, our courses transform compliance from a challenge into standard practice.

Ready to equip your team with the expertise they need? Discover our bespoke business-focused accessibility courses, designed to make EN 301 549 compliance achievable for organisations of any size.