EN 301 549: which edition is cited, and for which law
Decision (EU) 2021/1339 and Directive (EU) 2019/882, read in the Official Journal on 18 October 2026
EN 301 549 is the European standard for the accessibility of ICT products and services. One edition is cited in the Official Journal, EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03), and only for public sector websites and apps. Under the European Accessibility Act no edition is cited yet, so meeting it gives a product or service no presumption of conformity.
- Who it applies to
- Makers and sellers of the products the European Accessibility Act lists, providers of the consumer services it lists, and public sector bodies with a website or app.
- The dates
- The Act has applied since 28 June 2025. For public sector sites, EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03) has given a presumption since 12 August 2021.
- The one thing to do
- Pick what you build below to see the law it falls under, the edition cited for it and what that gives you.
Which law, which edition, and what it gives you
Pick what you build or run. The answer comes from the two Directives and the Decision, read in the Official Journal on 18 October 2026. Nothing you pick leaves this page.
Pick one of the four to see the answer.
A public sector body's website or app
- The law
- Directive (EU) 2016/2102, the web accessibility directive
- Edition cited for it
- EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03), by Decision (EU) 2021/1339, since 12 August 2021
- Presumption of conformity
- Yes, for the Article 4 requirements it covers (Article 6(1))
- What you must meet
- Article 4, sites and apps that are “perceivable, operable, understandable and robust”
- The document you owe
- An accessibility statement, kept up to date (Article 7)
Meeting EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03) gives the presumption. EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09) is newer and not yet cited, so it gives none.
A product the Act lists
- The law
- Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act
- Edition cited for it
- None yet
- Presumption of conformity
- No, until the Journal cites an edition (Article 15(1))
- What you must meet
- Annex I Section I, 18 requirements, and Section II, 2 more, unless it is a self-service terminal
- The document you owe
- The technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity
Build to EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09), the current edition, free from ETSI. It gives no presumption until the Journal cites an edition, and no official text gives a date for that.
A consumer service the Act lists
- The law
- Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act
- Edition cited for it
- None yet
- Presumption of conformity
- No, until the Journal cites an edition (Article 15(1))
- What you must meet
- Annex I Section III, 4 requirements, except in urban, suburban and regional transport, and the Section IV rows for your sector
- The document you owe
- The Annex V information, in your general terms and conditions
Build to EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09), the current edition, free from ETSI. It gives no presumption until the Journal cites an edition, and no official text gives a date for that.
That service, run by a microenterprise
- The law
- Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act
- Edition cited for it
- None yet
- Presumption of conformity
- Not needed, the service is exempt
- What you must meet
- Nothing in Sections III and IV of Annex I
- The document you owe
- None for the service requirements, while you stay under the threshold
Products are not exempt: a microenterprise making a listed product meets Annex I.
No card to start · cancel in-app anytime
The Act's Annex I as a catalogue, with the evidence for each requirement and the date it comes back, in one workspace.
Directive (EU) 2019/882, Articles 4 and 15(1), Directive (EU) 2016/2102, Articles 4, 6(1) and 7, and Decision (EU) 2021/1339, read on 18 October 2026.
Which edition is cited, and what that gives
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cited for public sector sites and apps? | Yes. EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03), by Decision (EU) 2021/1339, in the Journal on 12 August 2021 and in force that day. | Decision (EU) 2021/1339, Article 2 and Annex |
| The edition before it | EN 301 549 V2.1.2 (2018‑08), withdrawn from 12 February 2022. | Decision (EU) 2021/1339, Article 2 |
| Cited under the European Accessibility Act? | No. No reference is published under the Act, so Article 15(1) gives no presumption yet. | Directive (EU) 2019/882, Article 15(1) |
| Technical specifications instead? | None adopted. Article 15(3) lets the Commission set them by implementing act while no standard is cited. | Directive (EU) 2019/882, Article 15(3) |
| The current edition | EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09), free from ETSI, and cited under neither Directive. | ETSI |
| When it will be cited | No Commission decision, standardisation request or Journal notice gives a date. This page will give one once the Journal does. | The Commission's index of harmonised standards |
| What binds you | Annex I of the Act as your member state transposes it, or Article 4 of the web directive. A standard is one way to show you meet it. | Directive (EU) 2019/882, Article 4 |
StandardOS names EN 301 549 and does not reproduce it, since ETSI's terms allow only the extracts needed to implement it. We do not test or certify accessibility.
Questions about EN 301 549
Does EN 301 549 give a presumption under the EAA?
Not yet. Article 15(1) presumes conformity only for harmonised standards whose references are published in the Official Journal, and none is published under the Act, read on 18 October 2026. You can build to EN 301 549 to show how you meet Annex I. It shifts no burden of proof until the Journal cites an edition.
Which version of EN 301 549 is harmonised?
EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03), and only for Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on public sector websites and apps. Decision (EU) 2021/1339 published its reference on 12 August 2021, in force that day, and withdrew EN 301 549 V2.1.2 (2018‑08) from 12 February 2022.
What is EN 301 549 V4.1.1?
The current edition, EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09), free to download from ETSI. The Journal cites it under neither Directive, so for now it is the technical reference to build to, and it gives no presumption.
When will EN 301 549 be cited under the Act?
No official text says. We found no Commission decision, standardisation request or Journal notice with a date, read on 18 October 2026, and dates elsewhere are forecasts. Until the Journal carries a decision, the obligation is Annex I and no edition carries a presumption.
Is EN 301 549 mandatory?
No. A harmonised standard is voluntary under both Directives. What binds is Annex I of the Act, as your member state transposes it, or Article 4 of the web directive. A standard is one way to show you meet it.
Where do I get EN 301 549?
From ETSI, free. National standards bodies also publish it under their own prefix, such as DIN EN or UNE-EN. This page names it and does not reproduce it.
Where to start
If you make or sell a listed product, or provide a listed service to consumers, start from Annex I. The Act's page works out which of its requirements you carry and which document you owe. Build to EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026‑09), keep a record of what you checked, and look again when the Journal cites an edition.
A public sector body's site is held to Article 4 of the web directive, where EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021‑03) does give a presumption for what it covers. Does the European Accessibility Act reach you?
European Accessibility ActEvery free tool and template
Sources, read on 18 October 2026: Decision (EU) 2021/1339 on EUR-Lex, Directive (EU) 2019/882 on EUR-Lex, Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on EUR-Lex, EN 301 549 at ETSI. This page reads the Decision and the two Directives. It is not legal advice.