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EN 301 549

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EN 301 549
Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe
StatusPublished
Year startedFebruary 2013 (2013-02)[1]
First publishedFebruary 2014 (2014-02)[1]
Latest version3.2.1[2]
March 2021; 3 years ago (2021-03)
Preview version4.1.1[3]
2025
OrganizationCEN, CENELEC, ETSI
CommitteeTechnical Committee Human Factors & eAccessibility Joint Working Group
Base standardsWCAG
Domainweb accessibility
Copyright© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2021. © Comité Européen de Normalisation 2021. © Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique 2021.

EN 301 549 is a European standard that supports the development of digital best practices for everyone, including people with disabilities. It's like a checklist for digital accessibility that creators use to make sure their technology is easy for everyone to use. It specifies requirements for information and communications technology to be accessible for people with disabilities. For the web, the latest version, EN 301 549 v 3.2.1 includes the full text of WCAG 2.1 AA.

History of EN 301 549

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This standard was produced by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI[4] to set requirements for products and services in the European Union. EN 301 549 is the harmonized European Standard for ICT Accessibility. It is used in public procurement, as it is important that government services are easy for everyone to use. With European Accessibility Act, it is applicable to most organizations in Europe. Since it started, the rules have been updated to keep up with best practices.[5]

Versions over time

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  • EN 301 549:2015 V1.1.2 (Date: 2015-04)[6]
  • EN 301 549:2018 V2.1.2 (Date: 2018-08)[7]
  • EN 301 549:2019 V3.1.1 (Date: 2019-11)[8]
  • EN 301 549:2021 V3.2.1 (Date: 2021-03)[2]
  • CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 (Date: 2024-05)[9]

Why digital standards matter

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EN 301 549 has generally adopted the latest recommended version of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative, after a period of review. In version 2.1.2 the Harmonized Accessibility Standards officially adopted the W3C's WCAG 2.1 guidelines.[10] Previous versions of EN 301 549 embraced WCAG 2.0 as an ‘electronic attachment’. The next release of EN 301 549 will be released in 2025,[11] and some industry experts expect that it will include WCAG 2.2 AA.[12]

The EU approved the Web Accessibility Directive before this harmonized standard had been developed. The implemented decision provides for the presumption of conformity between member states.[13] Having a global guideline like WCAG is great, but it is easier to implement for some countries as a clear standard. Member states had until September 2018 to create the laws and regulations which enforce the relevant accessibility requirements.[14] Members states are free to determine how they achieve the standards of EN 301 549 standard and may exceed them. However, they now constitute a minimum standard for accessibility for European governments.[15][16]

What is included

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The standard includes web and mobile applications but also addresses a wide range of other technologies beside those covered by WCAG:[17]

  • Information and communications technology (ICT) products;
  • Services related to products;
  • Web sites; and
  • Some specific telecommunications services necessary to provide alternative modes of communication for speech modality (such as text or images) and their routing could offer access to services such as emergency calls or relay services for everyone.

Expectations for European governments

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European public entities are expected to meet the following deadlines:[18]

  • Requirements are already in force for any website published since September 23, 2019.
  • Public websites (including existing sites) are required to comply by September 23, 2020.
  • Mobile apps in the public sector are required to comply by June 23, 2021.

Global Adoption

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Countries outside of Europe, like Australia and Canada, are also using these rules. This helps them make their technology easier for everyone to use and keeps their standards in line, which facilitates trade with Europe.[19] Even where it hasn't been yet adopted, it is being used as a bench-mark for evaluating digital accessibility.[20]

In 2024, Canada adopted the current (2021) version of the European Union's EN 301 549, as CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024. It is now a National Standard of Canada.[21] Their version is identical to the original, but is available not only in PDF format but also in MS Word and HTML formats. The Canadian version is also available in French.[22][23][24]

Future updates

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The rules are updated regularly to keep up with new technology. The next big update will be in 2025, and it will include the newest advice on how to make technology accessible.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "EN 301 549 V1.1.1" (PDF). ETSI. p. 138. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "EN 301 549 V3.2.1" (PDF). ETSI. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  3. ^ "EN 301 549 V3 the harmonized European Standard for ICT Accessibilit". ETSI. Technical Committee Human Factors.
  4. ^ "New European Standard will help to make ICT products and services accessible for all". cencenelec.eu.
  5. ^ "Download ETSI ICT Standards for free". www.etsi.org. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  6. ^ "EN 301 549 V1.1.2 (2015-04)" (PDF). etsi.org.
  7. ^ "EN 301 549 V2.1.2 (2018-08)" (PDF). etsi.org.
  8. ^ "EN 301 549 V3.1.1 (2019-11)" (PDF). etsi.org.
  9. ^ "CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (EN 301 549:2021, IDT) - Accessibility Standards Canada". accessible.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  10. ^ "WCAG 2.1 ADOPTION IN EUROPE". w3.org.
  11. ^ Dahmen-Lhuissier, Sabine. "EN 301 549 V3 the harmonized European Standard for ICT Accessibility". ETSI. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  12. ^ Luken, Matthew (2024-07-03). "European Accessibility Act (EAA): Top 20 Key Questions Answered". Deque. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  13. ^ "Web Accessibility". europa.eu.
  14. ^ "The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018". DWP Accessibility Manual.
  15. ^ "What does European accessibility standard EN 301 549 mean for US organizations?". deque.com.
  16. ^ Friedel, Evelyne (31 October 2022). "Impact of the European Accessibility Act". TaylorWessing.
  17. ^ "EN 301 549: The European Standard Guidance for the application of the Accessibility Standard EN 301 549 for procurers and suppliers of ICT in Sweden" (PDF). pts.se.
  18. ^ "EN 301 549: The European Standard for Digital Accessibility". essentialaccessibility.com. October 2019.
  19. ^ "EN 301 549: What it means for Australia". intopia.digital. 18 July 2017.
  20. ^ "GSA finds federal tech accessibility challenges driven by lack of staff, resources". federalnewsnetwork.com. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  21. ^ "Our standard on Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services - Accessibility Standards Canada". accessible.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  22. ^ "Notre norme d'exigences d'accessibilité pour les produits et services TIC - Normes d'accessibilité Canada". accessibilite.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  23. ^ "Tech hasn't removed all workplace roadblocks for those with low vision". Washington Post. December 18, 2023.
  24. ^ archit_tandon (2023-04-14). "India's national accessibility standard for procurement of ICT products and services". Communications Today. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
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