Why More Businesses are Displaying the Egg Quality Assurance™ Certification Mark
A growing consumer demand for transparency is reshaping today’s food landscape. Canadians are seeking greater assurance about how their food is produced, its safety and that it was produced in Canada. In response, many organizations are dedicating significant resources to defining and communicating their own sourcing standards.
Fortunately for businesses that source eggs, there is a solution. The Egg Quality Assurance™ (EQA®) certification mark, developed by the Canadian egg industry, meets this exact challenge.
What is the EQA® program?
The EQA® program is an industry-wide initiative certifying that every type of egg from a regulated Canadian egg farm meets strict food safety and animal welfare standards. The EQA® certification mark is the consumer-facing symbol of this program that is available for licensees—such as retailers, restaurants and distributors—to use when sourcing eggs certified through the program. The mark can be voluntarily displayed on egg cartons, restaurant menus, advertising materials and more.
For consumers, it provides the transparency they desire to make informed purchase decisions by ensuring the eggs they are purchasing are safe, local and high-quality. Most importantly, the EQA® certification mark guarantees the eggs come from a Canadian farm, allowing businesses to confidently and clearly say they source Canadian eggs.
The value of the mark as a beacon of trust is clear. In fact, 83% of Canadians believe with the EQA® certification mark, they can trust every egg is high-quality and produced with care.1
Why is the EQA® certification mark a valuable business tool?
For businesses, the EQA® certification mark shows their commitment towards sourcing and other important consumer values like animal welfare, food safety, and buying Canadian—all in one mark. Research shows the EQA® certification mark positively influences purchasing behaviour, with 70% of Canadians reporting increased purchase intent after seeing the mark.1
The EQA® certification mark also offers distinct advantages for licensees at every stage of the supply chain.
- For retailers, the mark provides a clear, visible assurance of quality that builds shopper trust.
- For restaurants, using the mark reinforces menu transparency and the commitment to high-quality sourcing.
- For distributors, it strengthens credibility, providing a clear value-add for clients or partners looking for reliable sourcing solutions.
How do I become a licensee?
Join the growing community of leading Canadian businesses that have embraced the EQA® certification mark. Becoming a licensee is a straightforward and free process that allows you to use the trusted EQA® certification mark and benefit from ongoing marketing support from Egg Farmers of Canada.
To start your application or to learn more, visit eggquality.ca/licensees or contact eqa@eggs.ca.
¹ Environics Research Group Ltd. (December 2024). EQA® Awareness and Mindset Survey [unpublished data]. Prepared for Egg Farmers of Canada.