WooCommerce EN 301 549 Checker

EN 301 549 for WooCommerce 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 WooCommerce WCAG 2.2 checker as well to cover version 4.1.1.

A WooCommerce 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.

Who Should Run the WooCommerce EN 301 549 Checker

• WooCommerce businesses that sell products or services to consumers in the EU.
• Public sector bodies in the EU running a site on WooCommerce.
• 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 WooCommerce

• 1.4.10 Reflow

  Pages must reflow on a narrow screen without scrolling in two directions.

• 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast

  Controls, icons and focus indicators need 3:1 contrast.

• 3.1.1 Language of Page

  Each page must declare its language, which matters on multilingual EU sites.

• 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions

  Form fields, including checkout and consent forms, need visible labels or instructions.

• 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  Custom controls such as cookie consent switches need a name, role and state.

• 4.1.3 Status Messages

  Status messages, such as cart updates and form errors, must be announced.

Where WooCommerce Sites Usually Fail EN 301 549

These problems come up again and again on WooCommerce sites, and each one fails EN 301 549. The WooCommerce accessibility checker explains how to fix them in WooCommerce.

• Variation pickers and swatches. Color and size swatches built from clickable boxes often have no accessible name or keyboard support, so a shopper cannot choose a variation without a mouse.
• Product galleries and zoom. Gallery sliders, thumbnail strips and lightbox zoom can trap keyboard focus, and product photos are often uploaded with no alt text or just the file name.
• Cart and checkout forms. Coupon fields, quantity steppers, address fields and account sign-up can lack labels, and checkout errors are not always announced to screen reader users.
• Mini cart and off-canvas drawers. Slide-in carts and menus often fail to move focus into the drawer, let focus wander behind it, or ignore the Escape key.
• Payment gateway and express checkout embeds. Card fields, wallet buttons and pay-later messages load in iframes from the gateway. Missing frame titles and low-contrast widgets are outside your theme, so they need a different fix.

Worried about ADA claims as well? The WooCommerce ADA compliance checker covers the WooCommerce risks behind most complaints.

What to Test by Hand on WooCommerce

Automated testing finds many, but not all, EN 301 549 failures. Check these yourself after the scan:

1. Check every language version, including the page language setting (3.1.1).
2. Test the cookie consent banner with a keyboard and screen reader.
3. Publish accessibility information for your service, as the EAA requires.
4. Rescan after each fix. Continuous monitoring rescans up to 500 URLs per domain daily and keeps a dated record in the Compliance Vault.

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Related Guides

• EN 301 549 CheckerThe EN 301 549 standard in full, for any website.
• WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value explained simply: give every control a name, role and state with native HTML and ARIA, with code examples and how to test.
• WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions explained simply: visible labels, format hints, grouped fields and required markers, with code examples and a test routine.
• 5 Best ADA Compliance Software for Small Businesses (Updated 2026)The 5 best ADA compliance software for small businesses in 2026: AccessBell, AccessibilityChecker.org, AudioEye, UserWay and accessiBe, by price and features.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

WooCommerce EN 301 549 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions