EN 301 549 (ICT Accessibility)
EN 301 549 is the European standard that sets out accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services. It defines what is needed for hardware, software and digital content to be usable by people with a wide range of abilities, and it underpins public sector procurement rules and the European Accessibility Act.
Key Takeaways
EN 301 549 defines accessibility requirements for information and communication technology.
It applies to hardware, software, documentation and digital services.
It supports public sector procurement obligations and the European Accessibility Act.
It references international guidance such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
The standard specifies the functional accessibility requirements that information and communication technology should meet so that it can be used by people with diverse abilities, including those with visual, hearing, physical or cognitive needs. It spans hardware features, software interfaces and supporting content.
EN 301 549 is widely used as the basis for public sector procurement of accessible technology in Europe, and it underpins obligations arising from the European Accessibility Act, which extends accessibility expectations to many private sector products and services.
For web and digital content, EN 301 549 incorporates the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, aligning European requirements with global accessibility practice.
Devices such as self service terminals, public access displays and computing hardware procured by public bodies may need to meet EN 301 549, so its accessibility features are an increasingly important consideration for hardware selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
A European standard that sets accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services.
Suppliers of technology to the European public sector, and increasingly private sector providers affected by the European Accessibility Act.
It incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for web and digital content, aligning European requirements with international practice.
Yes. It covers hardware features as well as software, documentation and digital services.
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