INDUSTRY consultation for the 2026 review of the National Wool Declaration has been opened by the Australian Wool Exchange.
AWEX today invited stakeholders across the wool supply chain to provide feedback to the review.
The review will be conducted through an Industry Consultative Committee (NWD ICC), chaired independently by Chris Murphy, to assess whether the NWD and its integrity program remain fit for purpose and aligned with industry practices and evolving market expectations.
AWEX said the review will focus on ensuring the NWD continues to provide clear, credible and relevant information to the market, while remaining practical for wool growers and selling agents.
AWEX chief executive officer Charlie McElhone said the review was an important opportunity for industry input.
“The National Wool Declaration plays a critical role in maintaining confidence and transparency in Australian wool,” he said.
“This review gives industry the opportunity to help ensure the NWD continues to meet customer expectations while remaining practical and workable for growers and brokers.
“Achieving the right balance between integrity, efficiency and on-farm practicality is essential,” Mr McElhone said.
“That’s why AWEX is encouraging all sectors of industry to take part in the consultation.”
AWEX said the review will consider a range of topics including, but not limited to, the following key areas:
The relevance of current mulesing status declarations
Whether the NWD continues to meet evolving market and supply chain information requirements
The user friendliness of the NWD NWD declaration and compliance rates, and overall industry adoption
The operation and effectiveness of the NWD Integrity Program
Communications relating to the NWD
The consultation period is open now until close of business Friday, 29 May 2026.
Submissions can be made via the AWEX website or by email to [email protected]
Regarding the ‘relevance’ of current mulesing status declarations; we have here a problem of definition. If mulesing is not defined, because there are several treatments for flystrike, any one of which might fit the category of mulesing as implied in the National Wool Declaration. Mulesing as generally understood involves a surgical process of cutting and removing skin from the breech area. Other treatments do not, but for the purposes of the declaration they may all be deemed as mulesing.
This needs to be clarified and better presented in any revisions of the declaration.
Andrew Farran
Now retired and living in Malvern, Victoria.