I don't know what regulations are commodity by commodity in the States, but I do know, on a traceability basis, when BSE hit in Canada, we were ahead of the States in being able to trace our animals. We've improved phenomenally since then, but as far as actual regulatory requirements went, we were ahead of the States at that point. Having said that, I'm given to understand there is significant assistance to farmers in the States by their government to implement what is being mandated to them now.
I do, though, want to speak to the cost coming back to the producer, because there are small profits. We hear that all the time, but there are also very small margins. We are competing on a global market. One of the things I mentioned in the presentation was a government-led communications protocol or program to the consumer to tell them what we do now, why it is good to buy Canadian, the fact that our food is safe and of high quality, but also tell them about environmental standards and labour standards that we meet in this country. If we can get that promotion through the industry but also through government, then we will get more loyalty from the consumer.
Right now, if we are regulated and mandated for very costly food safety protocols that are not market-driven, that are simply perception-driven, the industry cannot absorb that. There is no way to pass it on because of the cheap food policy and the competition from the global marketplace of foods that come in at different standards from those we produce.