EN 301 549 is the European standard referenced by the Accessibility Directive (EU) 2019/882 when it comes to the technical implementation of accessibility. The current version of this standard is aligned with WCAG 2.1 level AA, and that is exactly the level at which online retailers and digital service providers are now being assessed. A new version of the standard is in preparation, referred to in practice as V4, which is intended to align with a later WCAG version.
For most entrepreneurs, there is nothing changing at this moment in what is expected of them. The legal requirement remains EN 301 549 as currently established, with WCAG 2.1 AA as the practical benchmark. A new version of the standard only becomes relevant once it has been formally adopted and designated as a harmonised standard under the directive. The exact timing of when this will happen is not yet fixed.
What exactly is EN 301 549
EN 301 549 is not legislation but a technical standard, drawn up by European standardisation organisations. The directive itself describes the obligation in general terms; EN 301 549 translates that obligation into concrete, testable requirements for websites, apps and other ICT. For the parts that deal with web content, the standard aligns with WCAG, the international accessibility framework that has existed for some time and is widely recognised. Whoever is now testing against WCAG 2.1 AA is in practice testing against the current content of EN 301 549.
Why the standard is being updated
WCAG itself does not stand still. A newer version is now available with additional criteria, aimed at amongst other things mobile use and cognitive accessibility. A technical standard that references an outdated version of that framework loses its relevance in practice over time. That is why work is underway on an updated version of EN 301 549, which is expected to incorporate those newer WCAG criteria. This process takes place via the usual standardisation route and has no fixed end date that can be stated with certainty at this time.
What this means for your online shop or app right now
As long as the new version of the standard has not been formally designated, the current requirement applies. This means that an assessment based on WCAG 2.1 AA is the right benchmark now, and a statement or improvement plan based on that is not outdated. At the same time, for businesses that have just started with accessibility, or that are reorganising their policy, it is wise not to build any tighter than necessary but also not to proceed blindly with a standard that will be supplemented over time. Criteria that are already known in a newer WCAG version, such as a clearer focus indicator in keyboard navigation, are already good practice now, even if they are not yet mandatory.
What you can also stay alert to in this phase is the way accessibility is being tested. An automated scan detects some of the problems, but not everything that falls under WCAG; that applies to the current standard and will also apply to an updated version. And an overlay widget that adjusts contrast or text size does not satisfy either standard, regardless of which version applies.
What you can do now
The most practical step is not to wait for a new standard, but to get a clear picture of where you currently stand in relation to the current requirement. This starts with the question of whether the directive applies to your situation at all, and then with an understanding of the issues on your core pages. conduct a free quick-scan of a couple of core pages provides a first indication of this, without you needing an account for that.
For businesses that want to go beyond a first impression, such as testing the checkout process or login environment and documenting an improvement plan with deadlines, this is the moment to explore what the full process entails. If you want to know where the information in the scan and reports comes from, you can read about it via an explanation of how the assessment is conducted.
Stay informed without having to follow the standard yourself
The development of EN 301 549 and alignment with a newer WCAG version is something you as a business owner do not need to actively monitor. As soon as there is a formal change that affects your situation, that is something that will be flagged in an ongoing subscription. Until then, the current standard remains the starting point, and it is also the most solid basis to build on now.
If you want to read more broadly about what is expected of you and what will change, visit the knowledge base with all topics sorted by situation. If you simply doubt whether the directive applies to your business, the free quick scan is the fastest way to get clarity on that in a few minutes.