Egypt's egg production exceeds local demand, with an annual output of 13 billion eggs from 1.7 billion commercial birds and 320 million chickens in the rural sector. The government is working on an integrated poultry project in Fayoum Governorate to increase production and meet local market needs, with plans to increase exports by developing the poultry industry. The project, started in 1983 with support from the Dutch government, aims to preserve local poultry breeds and register Egypt with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to allow bird flu-free poultry exports. Currently, the price of a carton of red eggs is 180 pounds, and white eggs are 178 pounds per carton at the consumer level.