Craft Business

A diplomatic row is escalating over Australian wool. The country's news network ABC reported last week that 19 clothing retailers in Sweden are banning Australian wool products over the controversial practice of mulesing. Used to prevent flystrike in sheep, the procedure involves cutting skin from the tail of the sheep without anaesthetic.

Now, as ABC reports, a board member of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is calling for the Australian Government to intervene. "I think this situation's probably gone past the task force, probably past AWI,” Wal Merriman told a reporter at ABC. “We need government involvement now to go to Sweden and talk to their government.”

The network revealed last week that a lobbyist paid by the Wool Industry Taskforce tried to induce a Swedish animal rights lobbyist to visit Australia to see the reasons for mulesing, on condition she didn't appear in a TV documentary about the practice. The Swedish Government has urged customers to boycott the products and proposes to raise the issue with the EU commission. If this goes ahead, it could affect the Australian wool industry's exports across Europe, which are reported to be worth AU$370 million – the equivalent of almost £170 million. It is already thought that other European countries are considering a ban.

Although the practice is due to be phased out by 2010, farmers are concerned that action will be required sooner. If the procedure is to continue, one solution would be to introduce a painkiller. But ABC reports that a Tasmanian farmer, who has recently stopped mulesing, believes a complete stop is achievable. Five years ago, wool grower Adam Greenhill started breeding a sheep less susceptible to flystrike. He says he's been able to stop mulesing without any major production problems. "We've certainly improved wool quality and quantity", he told the network.