Here, we're talking about implementing the system. That includes developing the data base, providing assistance to all sectors in the agrifood chain in order to automate and transfer information, placing initial identifiers on all dairy cattle and beef cattle herds in Quebec, implementing four years of management and setting up a government inspection system. To cover all that, we received $21.5 million over four years.
Now, producers are essentially required to pay for the work involved in declaration, the information they are required to transfer to ATQ. This really is their time. Moreover, they are required to cover the cost of identifiers. In Quebec, to reduce the cost of our identifiers, we have decided to work through calls for tender, and to select a single supplier for a three- to five-year contract. That's because our volume is not very high, and we provide the identifiers at cost price, at no profit to ourselves.
To cover management of the data base, the Government of Quebec provides $3.4 to $3.6 million each year. For the data base, each hour I transfer a copy of all my information into the government's crisis management system. That information can be used in real time if there were ever a crisis in the following hour. This applies to the entire system, including the disaster security system, all computer infrastructure, all support personnel in the industry, and all pilot projects. When we are given a mandate to incorporate a new species, a pilot project is set up in cooperation with the entire sector, from the production stage to the slaughtering stage. Thus, when products become available on the market, we can be assured that all regulations in force have been complied with by everyone.