Mulesing status in the National Wool Declaration remains unchanged

A review in to how alternative methods to mulesing should be recognised has been completed.

A review in to how alternative methods to mulesing should be recognised has been completed.

THE non-mulesed and mulesing categories in the National Wool Declaration remain unchanged.

The Australian Wool Exchange has been reviewing the NWD since May last year, foc­using on whether or how, alternative methods to mulesing should be recognised.

And after an extension to the review, both the AWEX board and the Industry Services Advisory Committee recognised the potential consequences of making a decision without the benefit of independent, clear and concise scientific analysis of the use of liquid nitrogen or any new innovation as an alternative to mulesing that may be introduced.

As a result AWEX will conduct a further review of the NWD with respect to mulesing status, with particular focus on the identification of wool from sheep treated with liquid nitrogen.

However, the accepted recommendations for the NWD include:

THE definition of mulesing to remain unchanged.

THE definition of non-mulesed to remain unchanged.

REFORMAT ceased mulesing to include two questions to improve clarity and reduce errors.

REPLACE the NWD/mulesing status code pain relief with AA (Analgesic and/or Anaesthetic), where an APVMA registered product has been used.

WITH respect to Liquid Nitrogen, AWEX is seeking further information on the animal welfare trials being undertaken, before an informed decision can be made.

WoolProducers Australia chief executive Jo Hall welcomed the “commonsense” approach by AWEX.

“WoolProducers provided written submissions into the various phases of the review process, strongly rejecting any change to the definition of mulesing and non-mulesing categories and calling for a delay in making any decision until all of the information was known,” Ms Hall said.