The company requesting the amendment is however the largest producer of guinea fowl in North America. Establishing grade names for guinea fowl will enable this company to market graded product to those clients wishing to purchase graded guinea fowl. Marketing of graded product will be particularly important to export markets such as the United States where clients are able to purchase guinea fowl bearing American grade names. The annual US poultry market is approximately 29 billion pounds. A comparable market penetration in the US would translate into a market of over 1 billion pounds.
Costs associated with the amendment are minimal.
It is anticipated that the grading service will be provided in only one establishment on a cost recovery basis. The Agency will be responsible for grade monitoring to ensure grading accuracy. This amendment has no impact on the year 2000 computer issue. The proposed amendments have been distributed to the national poultry associations and the provincial governments. Given the minor nature of the amendments, very few comments have been received.