---
title: "EAA procurement clauses and accessibility acceptance criteria"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/procurement-language-and-acceptance-criteria"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/procurement-language-and-acceptance-criteria"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Buyer-side EU Accessibility Act procurement language for covered products and services, with supplier evidence, EN 301 549 limits, Article 14 exception records, and acceptance criteria."
published_at: "2026-05-09"
updated_at: "2026-05-09"
keywords:
  - "EU Accessibility Act procurement"
  - "EAA acceptance criteria"
  - "Directive (EU) 2019/882"
  - "EN 301 549"
  - "accessibility supplier evidence"
  - "Article 14 EAA"
  - "EU Accessibility Act"
  - "EAA procurement"
  - "accessibility acceptance criteria"
  - "supplier evidence"
---
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---

# EAA procurement clauses and accessibility acceptance criteria

Buyer-side EU Accessibility Act procurement language for covered products and services, with supplier evidence, EN 301 549 limits, Article 14 exception records, and acceptance criteria.

*Procurement guide* *EU*

## EU Accessibility Act Procurement Language and Acceptance Criteria

Use procurement language to require evidence for the exact covered product or service being bought, not a broad accessibility promise.

This guide translates EAA scope, Annex I outcomes, EN 301 549 ICT evidence, product and service records, and Article 14 exception handling into buyer-side clauses and acceptance checks.

Procurement teams should treat EAA accessibility as an evidence-backed acceptance requirement. The contract should identify the covered product or service, require supplier records that map to the applicable Annex I requirements, and avoid saying the supplier is EAA-compliant unless the evidence supports that exact scope.

## Buyer clause structure

Start the clause with scope. Name the product or service, the EU market use case, the supplier role, the buyer-facing journey, and whether the item is one of the EAA product or service categories. Covered examples include computers and operating systems, payment terminals, ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines, e-readers, electronic communications, consumer banking, e-commerce, transport information, and e-books.

Then require evidence, not just a warranty. The supplier should provide an accessibility requirement matrix, applicable standards or technical specifications, test results, unresolved issues, and any Article 14 exception analysis. The buyer should reserve acceptance until the evidence matches the version, configuration, language, market, hardware, software, content, and service flow being delivered.

- Require the supplier to identify the applicable EAA product or service category and the Annex I requirements it mapped.
- Require a product evidence pack when hardware, firmware, software, or a self-service terminal is delivered, including technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity where applicable, applied standards, test evidence, and version identifiers.
- Require a service evidence pack when a service is delivered, including accessible service information, design and operation descriptions, how relevant Annex I requirements are met, and operational change controls.
- State that EN 301 549 evidence is accepted only for the ICT requirements and versions it actually covers; it is not a blanket EAA conformity statement.
- Require disclosure of any Article 14 fundamental-alteration or disproportionate-burden position, including the requirement affected, rationale, evidence, authority notification where required, and review trigger.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882&ref=sorena.io) - Supports buyer clauses that distinguish covered products and services, Annex I requirements, product technical documentation, service accessibility information, and Article 14 exception evidence.
- [European Commission - European Accessibility Act](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/european-accessibility-act-eaa_en?ref=sorena.io) - Supports the high-level scope description for EAA product and service categories relevant to procurement screening.

*Recommended next step*

*Placement: after Article 14 section*

## Turn EAA procurement evidence into acceptance gates

Use the clause structure, supplier evidence list, and acceptance criteria on this page to prepare a procurement review that distinguishes product records, service records, ICT standards evidence, and Article 14 exceptions.

- [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer EAA scope, evidence, and clause questions with cited outputs.
- [Talk through implementation](/contact.md): Review your procurement language, evidence model, acceptance gates, and exception records.

## Acceptance criteria for delivery

Acceptance criteria should be written as release gates. A supplier assertion is not enough; the buyer needs repeatable checks that show which requirements were tested, which were not applicable, which failed, and which were remediated before acceptance.

For ICT, use EN 301 549 as a structured test and requirements map where it fits the supplied product or service. Keep its boundary visible: the standard covers ICT products and services and can be applied to software, web pages, mobile applications, desktop applications, hardware, and combinations of hardware and software, but the legal conclusion still depends on the EAA scope, OJEU-referenced harmonised standards or technical specifications, and the specific requirements covered.

- No acceptance unless the delivered version has a requirements matrix tying each applicable Annex I outcome to test evidence, design evidence, or a justified not-applicable decision.
- No acceptance unless defects that block use without vision, with limited vision, without hearing, with limited hearing, without colour perception, with limited manual ability, or with cognitive limitations are triaged against the covered journey.
- No acceptance of a generic VPAT, WCAG statement, or marketing accessibility page unless it is tied to the delivered version and explains the covered EAA requirements.
- No acceptance of partial EN 301 549 evidence unless the supplier identifies the clauses applied, the clauses not applied, and the alternative solution used for remaining EAA requirements.
- No production rollout unless remediation owners, retest dates, workarounds, and consumer-facing accessibility information are recorded.

Sources for this answer:

- [ETSI - EN 301 549 V3 ICT accessibility standard overview](https://www.etsi.org/human-factors-accessibility/en-301-549-v3-the-harmonized-european-standard-for-ict-accessibility?ref=sorena.io) - Supports using EN 301 549 as an ICT accessibility requirements and test-evidence map while limiting it to the products, services, and clauses it actually covers.
- [European Commission - harmonised standards](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/european-standards/harmonised-standards_en?ref=sorena.io) - Supports the distinction between voluntary standards, mandatory legal requirements, and the need to check whether a standard reference is published for the relevant legal requirement.

## Supplier evidence to request

Ask for different evidence depending on whether the supplier provides a product, a service, or both. The EAA product route expects technical documentation that can assess conformity against the relevant accessibility requirements. The service route expects information explaining how the service meets those requirements in general terms and conditions or an equivalent document.

Make evidence freshness explicit. Product design changes, characteristics changes, harmonised-standard changes, service changes, and changes to technical specifications can affect whether earlier evidence still supports the procurement decision.

- Product evidence: product description, model and version, applied harmonised standards or technical specifications, test reports, design and operation evidence, EU declaration of conformity where applicable, CE marking evidence where applicable, and any Article 14 requirement exceptions.
- Service evidence: accessible description of the service, explanations needed to understand operation, mapping to relevant Annex I service requirements, support and complaint handling evidence, and change-control records for service alterations.
- Shared evidence: defect register, remediation commitments, accessibility statement or equivalent user information, third-party component list, assistive technology test notes, and supplier escalation contact.
- Procurement record: buyer scope decision, supplier evidence index, accepted residual issues, rejection reasons, retest result, and the person authorized to accept the accessibility evidence.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882&ref=sorena.io) - Supports separate product and service evidence requests, including technical documentation for products and service information describing how accessibility requirements are met.
- [Commission Notice - Blue Guide on EU product rules](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A52022XC0629%2804%29&ref=sorena.io) - Supports using economic-operator role, conformity assessment, declaration, technical documentation, and market-surveillance concepts carefully in product procurement records.

## Article 14 exceptions in contracts

Do not let an exception become a vague exclusion. Article 14 allows accessibility requirements to apply only to the extent that compliance would not fundamentally alter the basic nature of a product or service and would not impose a disproportionate burden on the economic operator concerned. That is narrower than saying accessibility is inconvenient, late, expensive, or outside the supplier roadmap.

Procurement language should require a written, requirement-by-requirement exception record before acceptance. The record should explain the affected requirement, evidence considered, alternatives assessed, why the remaining accessibility requirements still apply, and when the assessment must be renewed or reopened.

- Require the supplier to document the Article 14 assessment and retain relevant results for the required period unless the Directive gives a specific documentation exemption.
- For service providers relying on disproportionate burden, require renewal when the service is altered, when requested by the relevant authority, and at least every five years.
- Require notice that funding received for improving accessibility can affect whether disproportionate burden may be relied on.
- Require the supplier to make the product or service as accessible as possible for all requirements not covered by the justified exception.
- Make exception acceptance conditional: the buyer may reject an exception that lacks evidence, covers more requirements than necessary, or conflicts with the delivered scope.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882&ref=sorena.io) - Supports Article 14 handling for fundamental alteration, disproportionate burden, documentation, renewal, funding limits, and authority information duties.

## Unsupported claims to avoid

The safest procurement language avoids broad legal conclusions unless the buyer has the evidence to support them. Say what was checked, which requirements and standards were used, which version was tested, and what remains unresolved.

Avoid mixing EAA, WCAG, EN 301 549, public procurement, and national implementation rules into one unsupported label. They can be related, but each claim needs its own scope and source.

- Avoid 'EAA compliant' unless the statement identifies the exact product or service, applicable requirements, evidence set, jurisdictional scope, and any exceptions.
- Avoid 'EN 301 549 compliant' unless the supplier names the version, clauses, product or service functions, and test method.
- Avoid 'WCAG equals EAA' because web accessibility evidence may support part of an ICT assessment but does not answer every EAA product or service requirement.
- Avoid accepting accessibility statements that omit hardware, firmware, documents, authentication, multimedia, support, ticketing, banking, checkout, or service-operation flows that are part of the purchased scope.
- Avoid treating Article 14 as a permanent waiver; require review when facts, services, standards, authorities, or supplier evidence change.

Sources for this answer:

- [European Commission - accessibility standardisation](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/accessibility-standardisation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Supports careful use of accessibility standards across ICT, built environment, Design for All, EAA, Web Accessibility Directive, and public procurement contexts without collapsing them into one claim.
- [ETSI - EN 301 549 V3 ICT accessibility standard overview](https://www.etsi.org/human-factors-accessibility/en-301-549-v3-the-harmonized-european-standard-for-ict-accessibility?ref=sorena.io) - Supports the warning that EN 301 549 evidence must be scoped to ICT functions, clauses, versions, and the legal instrument it is being used to support.

## Primary sources

- [Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882&ref=sorena.io) - Primary legal source for covered product and service requirements, Annex I accessibility outcomes, product technical documentation, service information, Article 14 exceptions, and presumption-of-conformity rules.
  - Quote: "accessibility requirements for products and services"
- [European Commission - European Accessibility Act](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/european-accessibility-act-eaa_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission policy source for EAA purpose and the product and service categories useful for procurement scope screening.
  - Quote: "covers products and services"
- [ETSI - EN 301 549 V3 ICT accessibility standard overview](https://www.etsi.org/human-factors-accessibility/en-301-549-v3-the-harmonized-european-standard-for-ict-accessibility?ref=sorena.io) - Standards source for ICT accessibility requirement mapping and for limiting EN 301 549 claims to ICT products, services, functions, clauses, and versions.
  - Quote: "Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services"
- [European Commission - harmonised standards](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/european-standards/harmonised-standards_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for explaining that harmonised standards are voluntary tools and that legal compliance can also be demonstrated through other technical solutions.
  - Quote: "The use of these standards remains voluntary."
- [European Commission - accessibility standardisation](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/accessibility-standardisation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for the role of accessibility standards in ICT, built environment, Design for All, public procurement, the EAA, and the Web Accessibility Directive.
  - Quote: "standards also improve the functioning of the internal market"
- [Commission Notice - Blue Guide on EU product rules](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A52022XC0629%2804%29&ref=sorena.io) - General EU product-law source for using manufacturer responsibility, conformity assessment, EU declaration, technical documentation, and market-surveillance concepts accurately.
  - Quote: "The manufacturer is responsible"

## Related Topic Guides

- [EAA Accessibility Conformance Statement Template](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/accessibility-conformance-statement-template.md): Template language for an EU Accessibility Act conformance statement covering scope, Annex I mapping, service information, standards, support routes, evidence, and limits.
- [EAA Article 14 disproportionate burden workflow](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/disproportionate-burden-assessment-workflow.md): A cited EU Accessibility Act workflow for Article 14 fundamental alteration and disproportionate burden assessments, records, reassessment triggers, and evidence.
- [EAA conformance statements: products, services, EN 301 549 evidence](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/conformance-statements.md): What an EU Accessibility Act conformance statement should include, with product EU declarations, service information, EN 301 549 and WCAG evidence boundaries.
- [EAA e-commerce checkout accessibility FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/e-commerce-checkout.md): How to test an e-commerce checkout under the European Accessibility Act, including service scope, payment and identification flows, service information, and evidence.
- [EAA e-commerce checkout accessibility guide](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/e-commerce-checkout-accessibility.md): Official source EU Accessibility Act guide for accessible e-commerce checkout scope, payment and identification requirements, evidence, standards mapping, and customer information.
- [EAA EN 301 549 and WCAG mapping](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/en-301-549-and-wcag-mapping.md): Map European Accessibility Act Annex I requirements to EN 301 549 and WCAG evidence without overstating what WCAG tests can prove.
- [EAA EN 301 549 clause mapping for ICT evidence](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/en-301-549-clause-mapping.md): Map EN 301 549 clauses to EU Accessibility Act evidence, Annex I outcomes, product and service records, and gaps that need non-ICT support.
- [EAA scope classifier workflow for products and services](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/accessibility-scope-classifier-workflow.md): Classify EU Accessibility Act scope by product or service category, consumer use, market or service date, operator role, exclusions, exemptions, Article 14 records, and evidence.
- [EAA testing and conformance evidence | Annex I, EN 301 549 and Article 14](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/testing-and-conformance-evidence.md): How to document European Accessibility Act testing evidence: Annex I mappings, product technical files, service information, EN 301 549 boundaries, harmonised-standard limits, and Article 14 exception records.
- [EAA WCAG evidence and procurement acceptance](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/wcag-evidence-and-procurement-acceptance.md): How to use EN 301 549 and WCAG evidence in EU Accessibility Act procurement acceptance without overstating presumption of conformity.
- [EN 301 549 clause mapping for the EU Accessibility Act | EAA FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/en-301-549-clause-mapping.md): How to map EN 301 549 and WCAG evidence to EU Accessibility Act Annex I requirements without overclaiming presumption of conformity.
- [EN 301 549 evidence matrix workflow for EAA readiness](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/en-301-549-evidence-matrix-workflow.md): Build an EN 301 549 evidence matrix for European Accessibility Act work: scope rows, clause mapping, test evidence, owner sign-off, exception records, and limits of standards evidence.
- [EN 301 549 vs WCAG for EAA evidence](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/en-301-549-vs-wcag.md): Compare EN 301 549 and WCAG for European Accessibility Act planning: ICT scope, web-content overlap, harmonised-standard limits, and evidence beyond WCAG-only tests.
- [EU Accessibility Act Applicability Test](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/applicability-test.md): Check whether the European Accessibility Act covers a product or consumer service, which role applies, which date matters, and what evidence to keep.
- [EU Accessibility Act authority request response FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/authority-response.md): How to answer EU Accessibility Act checks from market surveillance or service authorities with technical documentation, service information, Article 14 records, and corrective actions.
- [EU Accessibility Act checklist for products and services](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/checklist.md): Checklist for EAA scope, operator role, Annex I mapping, product technical files, service information, Article 14 assessments, supplier evidence, release checks, and monitoring.
- [EU Accessibility Act compliance operating model](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/compliance.md): Build an EU Accessibility Act compliance file for covered products and services: scope, operator roles, Annex I mapping, conformity evidence, Article 14 assessments, corrective actions, and records.
- [EU Accessibility Act deadlines and compliance calendar](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): Calendar for the EU Accessibility Act: 2022 transposition, 2025 application, 2027 emergency communications timing, 2030 transition rules, owner actions, and evidence records.
- [EU Accessibility Act deadlines and transition plan](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/deadlines-and-transition-plan.md): Plan for the European Accessibility Act application date, service-contract transition, self-service terminal transition, 112 derogation, and evidence gates.
- [EU Accessibility Act disproportionate burden decision](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/disproportionate-burden-decision.md): How to document an EU Accessibility Act Article 14 disproportionate burden decision with supported criteria, retained evidence, limits, notifications, and review triggers.
- [EU Accessibility Act exemptions and disproportionate burden](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/exemptions-and-disproportionate-burden.md): Article 14 EAA guide covering fundamental alteration, disproportionate burden, service microenterprise exemptions, content exclusions, transition limits, and documentation.
- [EU Accessibility Act FAQ: scope, dates, services, Article 14](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq.md): Clear answers on EU Accessibility Act scope, 28 June 2025 application, covered products and services, microenterprises, Article 14, service information, standards, and penalties.
- [EU Accessibility Act for ecommerce websites](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/accessibility-act-for-ecommerce-websites.md): Official source guide for ecommerce teams applying the EU Accessibility Act to consumer checkout journeys, service information, accessibility evidence, and exceptions.
- [EU Accessibility Act microenterprise exemption and disproportionate burden FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/microenterprise-and-disproportionate-burden-decisions.md): FAQ explaining when EAA microenterprise relief applies, how Article 14 disproportionate-burden assessments work, what Annex VI requires, and what records to keep.
- [EU Accessibility Act penalties and enforcement](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/penalties-and-fines.md): How Directive (EU) 2019/882 handles penalties, Member State enforcement, market surveillance for products, and service compliance checks.
- [EU Accessibility Act procurement acceptance criteria | EAA FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/procurement-acceptance.md): How to write EAA procurement acceptance criteria that ask suppliers for scoped accessibility evidence, standards mappings, declarations, and exception records without overclaiming conformity.
- [EU Accessibility Act Product and Service Scope](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/product-and-service-category-scoping.md): Scope products and services under the EU Accessibility Act using Article 2 categories, Article 3 definitions, limited content exclusions, microenterprise treatment, and evidence records.
- [EU Accessibility Act products and services in scope](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/products-and-services-in-scope.md): Article 2 scope guide for the European Accessibility Act: covered products, covered consumer services, economic-operator roles, Article 3 definitions, and evidence records.
- [EU Accessibility Act Requirements: Annex I, Products, Services](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/requirements.md): Map EU Accessibility Act requirements by Article 4, Annex I, product and service obligations, Article 13 evidence, standards, and Article 14 exceptions.
- [EU Accessibility Act service transition rules under Article 32 | EAA FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/transition-services.md): FAQ on EU Accessibility Act Article 32 transition rules for service providers, pre-28 June 2025 contracts, 2030 limits, self-service terminals, evidence records, and change triggers.
- [EU Accessibility Act services: banking, transport, media and e-books](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/banking-transport-and-media-services.md): FAQ on which consumer banking, transport, audiovisual media access, electronic communications, e-book, and e-commerce services fall under the EU Accessibility Act.
- [EU Accessibility Act vs ADA and Section 508: EAA-cited-source comparison](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/accessibility-act-vs-ada-and-section-508.md): Compare the EU Accessibility Act with ADA and Section 508 planning boundaries, using official source EAA scope, evidence, standards, procurement, and operator-duty points.
- [EU Accessibility Act vs Web Accessibility Directive](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/accessibility-act-vs-web-accessibility-directive.md): Compare the European Accessibility Act with the Web Accessibility Directive: scope, covered actors, services, standards, evidence, monitoring, enforcement, and key dates.
- [WCAG Evidence for the EU Accessibility Act and EN 301 549 | EAA FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/wcag-evidence.md): When WCAG test evidence helps EAA work, how it maps through EN 301 549, and why WCAG alone does not prove European Accessibility Act compliance.
- [Which products and services does the EU Accessibility Act cover? | EAA FAQ](/artifacts/eu/accessibility-act/faq/product-and-service-categories.md): Article 2 and Article 3 scope summary for EU Accessibility Act covered products, services, exclusions, product-service boundaries, and records to keep.


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