EN 301 549 Compliance Test — Complete Guide for EAA Compliance 2026

If you're preparing for European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance, you need to understand EN 301 549. EN 301 549 is the European standard for ICT accessibility that the EAA references. It's aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA but includes additional requirements specific to digital products and services. EN 301 549 compliance is mandatory for businesses selling products or services in the EU market.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about EN 301 549 compliance testing — from what the standard is and why it matters to how to test and common pitfalls.

📌 Quick Answer — What is EN 301 549?

EN 301 549 is the European standard for ICT accessibility, referenced by the European Accessibility Act (EAA). It is aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA but includes additional requirements for hardware, software, and services. EN 301 549 compliance is mandatory for products and services covered by the EAA, enforced from June 28, 2025. The current version is v3.2.1 (released in 2023).

✅ Test Your EN 301 549 Compliance

Use our free multi-law compliance checker to test your website against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 standards.

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What is EN 301 549?

EN 301 549 is the European standard for ICT accessibility. It was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and is referenced by the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The standard covers a wide range of digital products and services.

EN 301 549 includes:

EN 301 549 compliance is mandatory for products and services covered by the EAA. The current version is v3.2.1, released in March 2023.

📊 EN 301 549 Statistics

EN 301 549 vs WCAG 2.1 — Key Differences

While EN 301 549 is aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, there are important differences:

Aspect EN 301 549 WCAG 2.1
Scope ICT (hardware, software, services) Web content
Hardware ✅ Included ❌ Not included
Software ✅ Included ❌ Not included
Documentation ✅ Included ❌ Not included
Test Procedures ✅ Included ❌ Not included
Standard EN 301 549 WCAG 2.1

EN 301 549 — Chapter Structure

EN 301 549 is organized into 9 chapters covering different aspects of ICT accessibility:

Chapter 4: Functional Performance Statements

Describes the overall functional performance requirements for ICT:

Chapter 5: Generic Requirements

Requirements that apply to all ICT:

Chapter 6: ICT with Two-Way Voice Communication

Requirements for telephony and voice communication devices.

Chapter 7: ICT with Video Capabilities

Requirements for video communication:

Chapter 8: Hardware

Requirements for physical hardware:

Chapter 9: Web Content (WCAG 2.1)

WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements for web content:

Chapter 10: Non-Web Software

Requirements for software applications:

Chapter 11: Documentation and Support Services

Requirements for documentation and support:

How to Test EN 301 549 Compliance

Step 1: Identify Your Product Type

Determine which chapters of EN 301 549 apply to your product:

Step 2: Run Automated Tests

Use our free multi-law compliance checker for automated testing against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 standards.

Step 3: Conduct Manual Testing

Perform manual testing for EN 301 549 requirements that cannot be automated:

Step 4: Test with Assistive Technologies

Test your product with:

Step 5: Document Conformance

Create an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for EN 301 549:

Common EN 301 549 Compliance Failures

1. Missing WCAG 2.1 Requirements

Issue: Not meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria.

Fix: Ensure your product meets all WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA criteria.

2. Inaccessible Documentation

Issue: Documentation is not accessible to screen readers.

Fix: Provide documentation in accessible formats (HTML, accessible PDF).

3. Hardware Controls Not Accessible

Issue: Physical controls lack tactile indicators or proper spacing.

Fix: Ensure controls are accessible to users with limited dexterity.

4. Missing Closed Captions

Issue: Video content lacks captions or transcripts.

Fix: Add captions and transcripts to all video content.

5. Inaccessible Support Services

Issue: Support services not accessible to users with disabilities.

Fix: Provide multiple support channels (phone, email, chat with accessibility).

EN 301 549 Compliance Checklist

✅ Identify applicable EN 301 549 chapters

✅ Meet all WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria (Chapter 9)

✅ Test software accessibility (Chapter 10)

✅ Ensure hardware accessibility (Chapter 8)

✅ Provide accessible documentation (Chapter 11)

✅ Test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)

✅ Test with keyboard-only navigation

✅ Add captions to all video content

✅ Create Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)

✅ Schedule regular EN 301 549 audits

🇪🇺 Test Your EN 301 549 Compliance

Free multi-law compliance checker — scan your website against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 standards.

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Frequently Asked Questions — EN 301 549 Compliance

❓ What is EN 301 549? ▼
EN 301 549 is the European standard for ICT accessibility, referenced by the European Accessibility Act (EAA). It aligns with WCAG 2.1 Level AA but includes additional requirements for hardware, software, and services.
❓ Is EN 301 549 compliance mandatory? ▼
Yes. EN 301 549 compliance is mandatory for products and services covered by the EAA. The EAA was enforced from June 28, 2025.
❓ What is the difference between EN 301 549 and WCAG? ▼
EN 301 549 aligns with WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web content (Chapter 9) but includes additional requirements for hardware (Chapter 8), software (Chapter 10), and documentation (Chapter 11).
❓ What is the latest version of EN 301 549? ▼
The current version is EN 301 549 v3.2.1, released in March 2023. It references WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
❓ How do I test EN 301 549 compliance? ▼
Use our free multi-law compliance checker for automated testing, conduct manual testing for hardware and documentation, and test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver).

🔍 Check Your EN 301 549 Compliance Today

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