IWTO Newsflash - June 2008

The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) strongly supports the Australian wool industry and Australian Wool Innovation, and urges a continuation of its work to meet the requirements of customers and consumers around the globe.

During his recent visit to Australia, IWTO President Günther Beier stated in Adelaide the range of measures and programs in place are set to enable the Australian wool industry to meet its commitment to retailers to phase out of surgical mulesing by 2010 and continue to produce an ethical natural fibre.

“IWTO is fully aware of the research and development work on alternatives to mulesing and the breeding and selection initiatives being conducted by Australian Wool Innovation, commercial businesses and woolgrowers themselves.

“We are very comfortable with progress and the very significant animal welfare advantages these measures offer.

“I encourage retailers to acknowledge that alternatives to mulesing will be ready for adoption prior to 2010.” And that in the interim, mulesing with pain relief will be acceptable.

The focus of the Australian wool industry’s R&D work is in three main areas:

  -Breeding and selection – results from scientific breeding programs show enhanced  resistance to blowflys is heritable. Also, there is a growing number of commercial and seedstock producers in Australia who have made excellent progress in this area

  -Clips – indications from the national 2007 trials show they will be a viable alternative to mulesing for many farmers; further refinement work is being conducted in 2008 and some farmers will be using them this year instead of mulesing

  -Needleless intradermal injection – a process using an agent widely used in human health treatment is in advanced development by an Australian R&D company

Critically, independent scientific analysis of the clips shows they provide very significant animal welfare advantages, with minimum pain and are a very acceptable technology.

Mr. Beier also said that the Australian industry clearly supports the use of a pain relief product in the lead up to 2010, and the product is being used across Australia.

“Importantly, IWTO notes that Australian woolgrowers are already identifying alternatives that best suit their environment and are moving to meet market signals, with survey data showing that near a third of lambs born in Australia this year will not be mulesed”

“And we welcome the establishment of a non-mulesed wool declaration process in the Australian auction system from July 2008.”

The IWTO believes it is imperative that the Australian wool industry be allowed to proceed unhindered with the development of alternatives to mulesing under the agreed timeframes and under the commitments that have been made with international retailers.

For more information, please contact Mr. Henrik Kuffner: info@iwto.org

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IWTO is the international body representing the interests of the world’s wool textile trade and industry. Our multi-national membership includes woolgrowers, traders, primary processors, spinners, weavers, and garment manufacturers, together with retailers and other companies involved in wool related businesses.