The EGUM Standard

The EGUM Standard defines what a business must demonstrate to earn each tier of the EGUM mark. The framework is consistent across every country and industry — four tiers, published criteria, and an assessment process controlled by EGUM. At higher tiers, specific criteria reflect each industry's context, developed in consultation with industry experts and EGUM community chapters.

The Framework

How the Standard works

Evidence-based

Every criterion requires verifiable evidence. Claims must be demonstrable, not asserted. EGUM does not accept self-certification.

Industry-informed

Higher-tier criteria are developed with input from industry experts, EGUM community chapters, and category specialists. Local knowledge shapes what distinction means in each context.

EGUM-controlled

EGUM defines the standard, makes every assessment decision, and awards every mark. Industry input shapes the standard; EGUM determines its application.

Publicly verifiable

Every EGUM certification is live and checkable at an official EGUM domain. The verification record is served by EGUM — not by the business displaying the mark.

Certification Tiers

Four tiers. One standard.

The four letters of EGUM map directly to the four certification tiers. Each letter represents a level of verified trust, building on the one before it. All lower-tier criteria must be met to hold a higher tier.

Egum

Level 1

Committed

A verified business that has joined EGUM and committed to open engagement and ongoing transparency.

What businesses earning this tier have demonstrated: verified legal identity, accurate and publicly available trading information, a monitored and responsive contact, active trading status, no unresolved serious regulatory violations, and a commitment to engaging openly with EGUM and the customers they serve.

Legal Identity — The business is registered with the relevant national or regional authority. Registration number and jurisdiction must be provided and verifiable.
Accurate Trading Information — Business name, trading address, and contact details are accurate and consistent across the application, the business website, and public registries.
Reachable Contact — A genuine, monitored email address and phone number are publicly available. EGUM will test responsiveness during assessment.
Active Operation — The business is actively trading. Evidence of recent activity must be provided.
No Serious Outstanding Violations — The business has no unresolved serious regulatory sanctions, fraud findings, or insolvency proceedings at the time of application.
Clear Business Description — A plain-language description of what the business does, who it serves, and where it operates is publicly available.
Commitment to Openness — By joining EGUM, the business commits to maintaining an accurate record, notifying EGUM of material changes to its operations, and engaging openly with the certification process.

EGum

Level 2

Recognized

A business that has demonstrated consistent quality and constructive engagement over time. EGUM has confirmed its standing through sustained review and customer feedback.

Recognized builds on Committed. Businesses earning this tier have shown — through active operation and sustained responsiveness — that they run openly: pricing visible, ownership disclosed, terms clear before any transaction, and a genuine complaint process in practice, not just published.

Published Pricing or Pricing Process — Prices are publicly available, or the pricing methodology and any applicable fees are clearly explained in advance of commitment.
Ownership Disclosure — The names of the principal owners or senior leadership are publicly disclosed.
Privacy Policy — A current, plain-language privacy policy is published explaining what data the business collects and how it is used.
Terms of Service — Clear terms of business are publicly available before any transaction is completed. No hidden or post-purchase terms.
Communication Responsiveness — The business responds to customer enquiries within 3 business days. EGUM will conduct a test enquiry during assessment.
Complaint Process — A clear, accessible process for raising complaints is published. Customers must be able to identify how to escalate if their complaint is not resolved.

EGUm

Level 3

Industry-specific criteria

Distinguished

A business that stands out within its category. EGUM has independently assessed its operations, consistency, and quality.

Distinguished is awarded once industry-specific criteria for a business's category have been published and the business has been independently assessed against them. Category distinction cannot be evaluated on generic criteria — what distinguishes a hospitality business, a law firm, a food producer, and a watchmaker are not the same things. Industry standards are developed in consultation with experts and community chapters and published as they are finalised. All lower-tier criteria must also be met.

EGUM

Level 4

Industry-specific criteria

Exemplary

A business operating at the highest level of its field. Independently assessed, sustained over time, and recognized as a benchmark for excellence. Awarded sparingly to those that set the standard in their category.

Exemplary is awarded when a business has demonstrated sustained excellence over time and is recognised within its category as a benchmark for others. Like Distinguished, it requires published industry-specific criteria and independent assessment against them. When EGUM awards this mark, it does so sparingly — it is not an application outcome but an assessment conclusion reached over time. All lower-tier criteria must also be met.

Industry Standards

One framework. Many industries.

Level 1 and Level 2 criteria are broadly consistent across industries. They establish that a business is real, transparent in its basic operations, and reachable — this baseline applies everywhere.

Level 3 and Level 4 require category distinction, and category distinction requires category context. EGUM develops industry-specific criteria in consultation with industry experts and EGUM community chapters. Each industry's standards are published as they are finalised. Once published, businesses in that category can apply for Distinguished and Exemplary certification.

Industry-specific standards are published here as they become available. The first industry standards are in development through the EGUM community chapter process.

How It Works

Apply. Be assessed. Earn the mark.

Choose your tier

Select the tier you wish to achieve. Each tier builds on the last — all lower-tier criteria must be met. Review the published EGUM Standard to understand what evidence is required.

Submit your application

Complete the application form with supporting evidence for each criterion. Applications can be submitted directly or through an approved EGUM Integration Partner.

EGUM assessment

The EGUM assessment team reviews your evidence. We may request a verification call or additional documentation. A decision is typically communicated within 20 business days.

Display the mark

On certification, you receive your EGUM Verification ID, digital badge, and EGUM scan code. Display the mark on your website, packaging, signage, and communications. Renew annually.

How the Standard Evolves

Community shapes what EGUM requires.

Community members suggest new criteria. EGUM reviews every suggestion. The strongest are adopted, credited to the community that proposed them, and published in the next version of the standard. No criterion is adopted without documented reasoning. No suggestion is ignored without a public explanation.

EGUM retains final control over all standards decisions. Community input is not just advisory in name — it is structured, documented, and publicly visible. The communities who know their markets best are the ones who make the Standard worth holding.

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V1 Launch

What's available now.

EGUM currently supports Committed and Recognized certification across all industries globally. Distinguished and Exemplary certifications will be assessed against industry-specific criteria, which are being developed in consultation with industry experts and community chapters. As each industry's standards are published, businesses in that category can apply.

Open Egum — Committed	All industries globally
Open EGum — Recognized	All industries globally
In development EGUm — Distinguished	Available per industry as standards are published
In development EGUM — Exemplary	Available per industry as standards are published

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