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Getting to know EN 301 549

Owned by Allison Batoff
Jul 03, 2024
2 min read

On May 31, 2024, Accessibility Standard Canada (ASC) announced that it has officially adopted the European standard EN 301 549:2021 Accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). ASC is also releasing it as a National Standard of Canada under the code CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024. 

Resources 

Accessibility Standards Canada adopts the globally recognized accessibility standard for ICT products and services - Accessibility Standards Canada 

ETSI - EN 301 549 V3 the harmonized European Standard for ICT Accessibility 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Why is Canada adopting EN 301 549? 

Since the Internal is global and has no boundaries, it does not make sense for each individual country to have its own set of standards. EN 301 549 continues to be adopted outside of the EU. By incorporating best practices already utilized by over 30 countries, Canada’s CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 aims to enhance the inclusivity of digital technologies across Canada. 

Resources 

Accessibility Standards Canada adopts the globally recognized accessibility standard for ICT products and services - Accessibility Standards Canada 

How is EN 301 549 different from WCAG?  

EN 301 549 has undergone four revisions since its creation in 2014. In the 2018 update, EN 301 549 adopted W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards as its baseline for compliance. 

However, EN 301 549 goes beyond the web to include a wide range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This includes: 

  • electronic documents; 

  • native mobile applications; 

  • cell phones; 

  • printers; 

  • ATMs;  

  • biometrics; and 

  • more. 

Resources 

What does EN 301 549 mean for US organizations? | Deque 

Understanding EN 301 549: The European Standard for Digital Accessibility - TPGi 

Who does CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 apply to?  

CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 applies to federal organizations, including parliamentary bodies, federal courts, government departments, the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, and private sector organizations in transportation, broadcasting, telecommunications, and banking. This measure ensures a consistent approach to accessibility across various sectors required to comply with the Accessible Canada Act. 

Resources

Canada boosting accessibility by adopting European Standard (userway.org) 

Where can I find CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024? 

CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 is available in English and French free of charge. Providing these standards for free to all Canadians, in both official languages, offers everyone the opportunity to incorporate best practices into their organizations. This will allow organizations to join ASC in their goal of achieving a barrier-free Canada by 2024. 

English: CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (EN 301 549:2021, IDT) - Accessibility Standards Canada  

Français: CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 Exigences d’accessibilité pour les produits et services TIC (EN 301 549:2021, IDT) - Normes d'accessibilité Canada 

Resources

Our standard on Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services - Accessibility Standards Canada 

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