comparison
EN 301 549 vs WCAG 2.2
EN 301 549 (EN 301 549 — Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services, European Union (harmonised standard), 2014 (v3.2.1 current)) and WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, Global (referenced by most national accessibility laws), 2023) are two of the most-referenced accessibility frameworks in digital compliance. This guide compares them side by side — jurisdiction, scope, conformance approach, penalties, and how a single audit can cover both simultaneously.
What is EN 301 549?
EN 301 549 is the harmonised European standard for digital accessibility, maintained jointly by ETSI, CEN, and CENELEC, that incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA for web and mobile content and adds requirements for hardware, software, documentation and support — and is the technical reference for both the European Accessibility Act and the Web Accessibility Directive.
Maintainer
ETSI / CEN / CENELEC
Jurisdiction and enforcement
European Union (harmonised standard). Referenced by EAA and Web Accessibility Directive.
What is WCAG 2.2?
WCAG 2.2 (pronounced 'wuh-cag 2.2') is the World Wide Web Consortium's globally adopted standard for web accessibility, published October 2023, defining 87 testable success criteria organised under four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.
Maintainer
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Jurisdiction and enforcement
Global (referenced by most national accessibility laws). Referenced by ADA, EAA, Section 508, AODA and many others.
EN 301 549 vs WCAG 2.2 — the key differences
The principal difference is jurisdictional: EN 301 549 applies in European Union (harmonised standard), while WCAG 2.2 applies in Global (referenced by most national accessibility laws). EN 301 549 is maintained by ETSI / CEN / CENELEC; WCAG 2.2 is maintained by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The standards differ on scope, conformance grading, and penalty structure — but a well-designed accessibility programme can satisfy both simultaneously by adopting the strictest applicable requirement and cross-mapping findings.
Scope
EN 301 549 covers: Web content, Non-web documents (PDF, EPUB), Software (native apps, OSes), Hardware (kiosks, devices), Documentation, ICT support services. WCAG 2.2 covers: Web content, Mobile web, Web applications, PDF documents (with PDF/UA), EPUB publications.
Penalties
EN 301 549: Inherited from referencing law (WAD or EAA per member state). WCAG 2.2: United States: civil penalties under ADA Title III; demand letters typically settle at $3,000–$25,000; litigated cases can reach $50,000+ in attorney-fee awards.
How to comply with both at once
Adopt the stricter applicable conformance level — typically WCAG 2.2 Level AA — as your engineering baseline. Audit against that baseline once, then cross-map findings to both EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.2 specific requirements. A single Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) using VPAT 2.5 INT can document both.
When you might need just one
If you operate exclusively in European Union (harmonised standard) and have no cross-border procurement exposure, you may only need EN 301 549. The same applies in reverse for WCAG 2.2. For organisations selling cross-border, into the EU or US public sector, the safer default is to plan to both simultaneously.
Sources
- EN 301 549 v3.2.1 — ETSI
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 — W3C
- WCAG 2 Overview — W3C WAI
- What's New in WCAG 2.2 — W3C WAI
- Test Evaluating Web Accessibility — W3C WAI
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Is EN 301 549 stricter than WCAG 2.2?
Neither standard is uniformly "stricter" — they cover different regulatory domains. EN 301 549 is more prescriptive about web content; WCAG 2.2 about web content. For organisations exposed to both, a unified WCAG 2.2 AA baseline typically satisfies the technical requirements of both.
Can a single audit satisfy EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.2?
Yes. Both standards ultimately reference WCAG-aligned criteria. A combined audit with cross-mapped findings can produce documentation acceptable to both regulators.
Which jurisdictions enforce EN 301 549?
European Union (harmonised standard). Referenced by EAA and Web Accessibility Directive.
Which jurisdictions enforce WCAG 2.2?
Global (referenced by most national accessibility laws). Referenced by ADA, EAA, Section 508, AODA and many others.
What happens if I am not compliant with EN 301 549?
Inherited from referencing law (WAD or EAA per member state)
What happens if I am not compliant with WCAG 2.2?
United States: civil penalties under ADA Title III; demand letters typically settle at $3,000–$25,000; litigated cases can reach $50,000+ in attorney-fee awards European Union: fines under EAA national transpositions vary by member state, up to €1,000,000 in some jurisdictions Canada (AODA): C$50,000–C$100,000 per day per violation in Ontario
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