A CAMPAIGN to keep Australia’s wool clip clean has been relaunched, months after Chinese processors documented continuing contamination in bales imported into the country.

An Australian Wool Exchange media release last week said the Australian Wool industry has a long and proud history of quality wool clip preparation that is recognised and valued by our customers.

“Despite this, clip contamination remains a serious concern.

“Contamination from items such as twine, bags, cloth, hooks, wire, and tools continue to be an issue that cause havoc in wool processing, either by damaging finetuned specialist equipment, or when processed amongst the wool fibres and contaminating, in some circumstances, an entire batch of woollen product being produced.”

In May last year, Sheep Central was forwarded photographic evidence of continuing contamination in the Australian clip after industry bodies were told the problem was increasing.

AWEX said in partnership with its global wool processor partners, the Keep Your Clip Clean campaign has been relaunched to raise awareness of the seriousness wool contamination can play in the Australian clip, its impacts, and how we can all help avoid it.

“With ~80 percent of Australian wool processed in China, there is a strong message of support for Australian growers to be vigilant and to achieve a clip free of contamination from leaders in companies including China SDIC International Trade Nanjing Co., Ltd., TianYu Wool Industry Co.,Ltd, Zhejiang Redsun Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Zhejiang New Chuwa Wool Co., Ltd.”

AWEX said TianYu Wool Industry’s chief marketing officer Jane Guo shares the company’s “passion for Australia Merino wool and thanks wool growers for their efforts and continuous best practice on farm for quality clip preparation.”

AWEX said the Keep Your Clip Clean poster has been refreshed, raising awareness of contamination using examples found in wool bales from Australia.

The relaunched campaign will also include an article on contamination in the March edition of Australian Wool Innovation’s Beyond the Bale magazine with the poster as an insert.

The poster will be included in AWEX Wool Classer re-registration pack that goes out to more than 14,000 classers later this year and 1000 additional posters have been printed for distribution.

Click here for a copy of the latest Keep Your Clip Clean poster.