2008 News
Industry Taskforce Presents to International Wool Textile Conference
14 April 2008
Chairman of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce Operations Group, Don Hamblin has updated a major international wool industry conference in Beijing on Australia’s progress towards the 2010 phase out of mulesing.
The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) Congress is staged annually and is attended by key players in the international wool pipeline, from woolgrowers through to processing and retail.
“The progress of the Australian industry towards the phase out of mulesing is understandably high on this year’s agenda,” said Mr Hamblin, who represented the Taskforce at the 2008 IWTO Congress.
“The eyes of the world’s wool industry are very much upon Australia and how we are progressing with alternatives to mulesing. There is a lot at stake for everyone in the wool pipeline, not only Australian growers.
“Without doubt the item of most interest was the new identification system that has been put in place by the Australian industry from 1 July this year, which will allow growers to identify the mulesing status of their clip. Growers will be able to declare either that they have ceased mulesing on their property or that their wool is from sheep that were not mulesed. This information will be recorded in sale catalogues and transmitted electronically to buyers. This major step was very well received by the international community and will be very significant in helping them to keep processing and selling woollen apparel,” said Mr Hamblin.
Mr Hamblin reaffirmed the commitment of the industry to move towards alternatives to mulesing by 2010, and gave an overview as to how future fly strike prevention measures such as clips, breeding and intradermal treatments are progressing. Mr Hamblin also briefed the congress about the uptake of training for mulesing operators and the Taskforce support for the use of pain relief at the time of mulesing.
“The international community was appreciative that the Taskforce is keeping them updated on the progress towards 2010,” said Mr Hamblin. “The Taskforce presentation was also an ideal forum to engage with IWTO and its members on ways they can best work with us to assist Australia in dealing with the mulesing issue.”
“It was also very positive that IWTO members offered to work with the Taskforce and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to maximise communication with the downstream industry about mulesing, to counter the false and misleading information that is continually published by animal activists.
“The progress towards 2010 is about helping processors and retailers produce a product that is consistent with the expectations of their customers,” concluded Mr Hamblin.