A proposed deal aims to bring an end to mulesing.THE Victorian Farmers Federation has attacked the proposed agreement to bring an end to a boycott of Australian wool.
The agreement to end the practice of mulesing was made in New York recently between the Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The agreement also requires that sheep live export standards comply with Australian welfare standards governing the care of domestic animals.
The plan provides a road map for an audited phaseout of mulesing that would start immediately and end before 2010, and establishes a new wool brand which would be available to retailers internationally.
However, the VFF says the agreement is unrepresentative of the industry and harmful to the industry’s animal welfare standards.
VFF Livestock president Ailsa Fox said Australian animal welfare standards were developed by industry bodies and the Australian Government.
“These standards are among the highest in the world, therefore we will not be held to ransom by extreme animal rights groups such as PETA,” Mrs Fox said.
Mrs Fox said the sheep and wool industry had already developed an agreement with international wool retailers which would see the systematic phasing out of the mulesing procedure by 2010.
“The industry is investing millions of dollars in the development of a mulesing alternative, however agreeing to the PETA/AWGA terms would put the welfare of our sheep at risk,” Mrs Fox said.
“The AWGA does not represent the sheep and wool industry and are in no position to make agreements on industry’s behalf.”
Mrs Fox said the appropriate body to determine any position on animal welfare standards or negotiate agreements on animal welfare standard is the industry taskforce.
“PETA’s willingness to enter into an agreement such as this is confirmation in my mind that the legal action against them is having the desired effect,” Mrs Fox said.
