EN 301 549 for Magento Sites
EN 301 549 is the European standard for accessible information and communication technology. For websites, its clause 9 reuses WCAG: version 3.2.1 uses WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and version 4.1.1, published in September 2026 for the European Accessibility Act, uses WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
The European Accessibility Act has applied to e-commerce and other consumer services since June 28, 2025, wherever the business is based. This checker runs the scan with the EN 301 549 preset, which tests the WCAG 2.1 AA web requirements. Run the Magento WCAG 2.2 checker as well to cover version 4.1.1.
A Magento store selling to EU consumers is an e-commerce service under the European Accessibility Act. Scan product, cart and checkout pages, check every language version, and publish accessibility information about the service.
| Applies through | European Accessibility Act, Web Accessibility Directive |
|---|---|
| Web requirements | WCAG 2.1 AA (V3.2.1), WCAG 2.2 AA (V4.1.1) |
| EAA applies since | June 28, 2025 |
| Microenterprise exemption | Service providers with under 10 staff and €2M or less |
| Automated rules in this scan | 62 |
Who Should Run the Magento EN 301 549 Checker
- Magento businesses that sell products or services to consumers in the EU.
- Public sector bodies in the EU running a site on Magento.
- Vendors selling software or services to EU public bodies.
- Non-EU companies with EU customers, since the EAA follows the customer.
EN 301 549 Requirements to Check on Magento
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1.4.10 Reflow
Pages must reflow on a narrow screen without scrolling in two directions.
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1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
Controls, icons and focus indicators need 3:1 contrast.
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3.1.1 Language of Page
Each page must declare its language, which matters on multilingual EU sites.
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3.3.2 Labels or Instructions
Form fields, including checkout and consent forms, need visible labels or instructions.
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4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
Custom controls such as cookie consent switches need a name, role and state.
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4.1.3 Status Messages
Status messages, such as cart updates and form errors, must be announced.
Where Magento Sites Usually Fail EN 301 549
These problems come up again and again on Magento sites, and each one fails EN 301 549. The Magento accessibility checker explains how to fix them in Magento.
- Swatch options. Configurable product swatches are often built from elements that cannot be reached with Tab, or that have no text describing the color or size they represent.
- Layered navigation. Filter links and sliders on category pages can lack names and state, and the product list that changes after a filter is applied is not announced.
- Checkout step forms. The multi-step checkout is drawn by script, and field errors or step changes can appear without any announcement to assistive technology.
- Product images and content. Catalog imports and bulk uploads often leave image alt text blank or fill it with file names, and CMS blocks use styled text instead of real headings.
- Extension modals and popups. Newsletter popups, cookie banners, review and wishlist extensions each add their own dialogs, and each can trap or lose keyboard focus.
Worried about ADA claims as well? The Magento ADA compliance checker covers the Magento risks behind most complaints.
What to Test by Hand on Magento
Automated testing finds many, but not all, EN 301 549 failures. Check these yourself after the scan:
- Check every language version, including the page language setting (3.1.1).
- Test the cookie consent banner with a keyboard and screen reader.
- Publish accessibility information for your service, as the EAA requires.
- Rescan after each fix. Continuous monitoring rescans up to 500 URLs per domain daily and keeps a dated record in the Compliance Vault.
Related Guides
Magento EN 301 549 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions
Does EN 301 549 apply to my Magento site?
If you sell to consumers in the EU, the European Accessibility Act applies, and EN 301 549 is how conformance is measured. Microenterprises providing services are exempt. EU public sector sites are covered by the Web Accessibility Directive.
Which WCAG version does EN 301 549 use?
Version 3.2.1 uses WCAG 2.1 AA. Version 4.1.1, published in September 2026, uses WCAG 2.2 AA. Testing to WCAG 2.2 AA covers both.
Does this scan cover all of EN 301 549?
No. It tests the automated web requirements. EN 301 549 also covers documents, software, support and hardware, and many web requirements need manual testing.
Sources
- ETSI: EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03) (opens in a new tab)
- National Disability Authority (Ireland): EN 301 549 V4.1.1 published (opens in a new tab)
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act (opens in a new tab)
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2016/2102, the Web Accessibility Directive (opens in a new tab)
This page explains general accessibility patterns for Magento sites and is not legal advice. AccessBell is not affiliated with Magento. Magento and its logo are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the platform. See our disclaimer.
