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NSAI is inviting interested parties to get involved in the development of new standards and the revision of existing standards, in support of the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

The EAA seeks to harmonise accessibility requirements for certain products and services within the EU, in particular, by eliminating and preventing barriers to the free movement of products and services in scope of the EAA.

Interested parties are likely to include Disable Persons’ Organisations (DPOs), persons with lived experience, accessibility experts, manufacturers, service providers, technical experts, organisations and sub-contractors that provide products and services within the scope of the EAA, Government agencies, ICT experts, regulators and market surveillance organisations.

NSAI is calling for interested parties to participate in national technical committees, to represent the national position during the development of these standards.

Product and services within scope of Act

Products and services which are to be placed on the EU market after 28th June 2025, fall within the scope of the European Accessibility Act.

These include the following:

  • Computers and operating systems;
  • Automated teller machines (ATMs), ticketing and check-in machines;
  • Smartphones;
  • V equipment related to digital television services;
  • Telephony services and related equipment;
  • Access to audio-visual media services such as television broadcast and related consumer equipment;
  • Services related to air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport;
  • Banking services;
  • E-books; and
  • E-commerce.

The development of these standards is a result of a request by the European Commission under Standardisation Request (M/587) https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/enorm/mandate/587_en

1. Harmonised standard(s) setting up requirements on the accessibility of non-digital information related to products.
2. Harmonised standard for the accessibility of support services related to products and services (help desks, call centres, technical support, relay services and training services).

3. Harmonised standard for the accessibility and interoperability of emergency communications and for the answering of emergency communications by the public safety answering point (PSAPs) (including to the single European Emergency number 112)

Revision of a number of existing standards:

1. Harmonised Standard -EN 301 549 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services

2. EN 17161:2019 Design for All - Accessibility following a Design for All approach in products, goods and services - Extending the range of users.

3.EN 17210 Accessibility and usability of the built environment - Functional requirements

4. CEN/CLC/ETSI TR 101551 Guidelines on the use of accessibility award criteria suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe

5. CEN/CLC/ETSI/TR 101 552 Guidance for the application of conformity assessment to accessibility requirements for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe

Both standards (2. & 3.) will become harmonized standards in support of the EAA following revision.

 

How to become involved

Would you like to participate in the development of new standards, and the revision of existing standards in support of the EAA? If so, please express your interest by emailing NSAI at info@nsai.ie, for the attention of Elizabeth O'Ferrall in Standards.

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