CEN/CLC/ETSI/JWG EACC - European Joint WG on eAccessibility under mandate M/376

The present document specifies the functional accessibility requirements applicable to ICT products and services, together with a description of the test procedures and evaluation methodology for each accessibility requirement in a form that is suitable for use in public procurement within Europe. The present document is intended to be used with Web based technologies, non-web technologies and hybrids that use both. It covers both software and hardware as well as services. It is intended for use by both providers and procurers, but it is expected that it will also be of use to many others as well. The relationship between the present document and the essential requirements of Directive 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies is given in Annex A. The present document contains the necessary functional requirements and provides a reference document such that if procedures are followed by different actors, the results of testing are similar and the interpretation of those results is clear. The test descriptions and evaluation methodology included in the present document are elaborated to a level of detail compliant with ISO/IEC 17007:2009, so that conformance testing can give conclusive results.

The present document lists the documents used in the creation of EN 301 549 (V1.1.1) on accessibility requirements for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe and provides a source reference for any other documents needed to implement the test procedures specified in that document. As well as identifying the sources for the EN content, the present document also provides additional explanation to assist users of the EN with clarifications and supporting information about measurement methods, particularly where no globally agreed test presently exists. Where there are any test gaps, these are identified and test descriptions and evaluation methodologies are developed. In those exceptional cases where it is not possible to do so, recommendations are given on how the gaps should be filled. The present document does not address additional sources or issues raised during the creation of later versions of the EN.

The present document specifies the functional accessibility requirements applicable to ICT products and services, together with a description of the test procedures and evaluation methodology for each accessibility requirement in a form that is suitable for use in public procurement within Europe. The present document might be useful for other purposes such as procurement in the private sector. The present document is intended to be used as the basis for an accessible ICT procurement toolkit. The present document will primarily be useful for public procurers to identify the requirements for their purchases, and also for manufacturers to employ it within their design, build and quality control procedures. The present document contains the necessary functional requirements and provides a reference document such that if procedures are followed by different actors, the results of testing are similar and the interpretation of those results is clear. The test descriptions and evaluation methodology included in the present document are elaborated to a level of detail compliant with ISO/IEC 17007:2009 [i.14], so that conformance testing can give conclusive results. The inherent nature of certain situations makes it impossible to make reliable and definitive statements that accessibility requirements have been met. In those situations therefore, the requirements in the present document are not applicable: - when the product is in a failure, repair or maintenance state where the ordinary set of input or output functions are not available; - during those parts of start-up, shutdown, and other state transitions that can be completed without user interaction. NOTE 1: Even in the above situations, it is best practice to apply requirements in the present document wherever it is feasible and safe to do so. NOTE 2: Compliance issues are covered in normative clause C.1.