2005 News
Retailer compact with Australian wool industry a major breakthrough
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 ‘Compact’ sets out in writing the necessary commitments and assurances the retailers need to meet their corporate social responsibility and customer requirements.
“The 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.
“Retailers 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.
“However 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 that there is a realistic plan to achieve this. These commitments will be set out clearly in writing in the Compact.”
Mr Pietsch said the Compact was currently being discussed with the National Retail Federation, which represents a large number of key US retailers. Similar discussions are also taking place with industry bodies internationally.
“The Compact will highlight the commitment of the Australian wool industry to the highest standards of animal welfare and to a research and development program focused on continuous improvement in sheep welfare, including the development of an effective and acceptable alternative to mulesing.
“Industry’s progress in meeting milestones outlined in the Compact will be reported to retailers regularly.
“The Compact will also feature the commitment by the Australian wool industry to commit funds and work together with retailers on new wool textiles and apparel products, ensuring that Australian Merino wool is an integral part of the retailers’ product offering.”
Mr Pietsch said the Compact would be finalized with US retailers in the near future. The Compact also represented the achievement of another important stage in the strategy of the Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce to protect the reputation of Australian Merino wool and the retailers who market Merino garments from the misleading attacks by animal rights activists.
Commenting on the recent meeting between Chick Olsson of the Australian Woolgrowers Association (AWGA) and PETA in New York, Mr Pietsch said: “Mr Olsson briefed the Taskforce on 30 June about a draft agreement provided by PETA. Mr Olsson said that the draft was unacceptable to AWGA and that he wanted another week to negotiate something he could bring back to the industry. He hasn’t tabled anything yet for us to consider.”
Mr Pietsch said that the Taskforce strategy of dialogue and agreement with retailers would produce the best results for both retailers and the Australian wool industry.
“Retailers are the ones who decide what to stock on their shelves and the Taskforce will continue to focus industry’s efforts on meeting the needs and requests of the retailers.”