The Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce and international retailers are negotiating a breakthrough agreement to ensure continuing support for Australian Merino wool.
The ground-breaking initiative was developed by the Taskforce to meet the needs of retailers which have been subject to a misinformation and harassment campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) over the husbandry practice of mulesing.
Taskforce spokesman and President of WoolProducers, Robert Pietsch, said that the ?ompact?sets out in writing the necessary commitments and assurances the retailers need to meet their corporate social responsibility and customer requirements.
?he Compact proposal was enthusiastically received in the United States particularly, where the Taskforce has been working closely with retailers to provide balanced information and detail about Australian wool production practices,?Mr Pietsch said.
?etailers have developed an understanding of the fact that mulesing cannot be stopped immediately, as advocated by animal rights activists, because of the significant negative impact that would have on the welfare of Merino sheep.
?owever retailers want Australian wool and sheep producers to demonstrate not only that we will phase out mulesing as soon as possible, and certainly no later than 2010, but thatthere is a realistic plan to achieve this. These commitments will be set out clearly in writing in the Compact.?/FONT>
