ALMOST 70 percent of Australia’s wool growers are declaring the mulesing status of their wool and about 13pc of the national clip is coming from non-mulesed flocks.

The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) today released the latest National Wool Declaration figures as it launched its latest review of the NWD, citing Victoria and Tasmania as having NWD adoption rates of 80pc-plus.

AWEX said the consultation period for the NWD review is now open and will close on 1 July, 2019.

AWEX chief executive officer Mark Grave said AWEX first launched the NWD in 2008 and in 2010 the on-farm component of the NWD Integrity Program (NWD-IP) commenced.

“For almost a decade AWEX, together with the support of the wool industry, has built a robust integrity program that has the confidence of the supply chain.

“The review of the NWD is critical to maintaining the credibility of this national program and to maintain the confidence of the wool supply chain,” he said.

“Interest in the NWD is increasing every season as more supply chain customers engage directly with the Australian wool industry.”

Tasmania and Victoria lead in NWD uptake

Mr Grave said engaging the wool supply chain in the NWD review is key to ensuring that the information they receive is relevant and meets their needs.

“Growers recognise this and it’s this engagement that has helped lift the adoption rate of the NWD to almost 70pc.

“In Tasmania and Victoria, the declaration rate is over 80pc and increasing,” he said.

“The tipping point has been passed and the ‘Not Declared’ (ND) status is now the minority.

“Importantly, the market has been showing consistent and increasing market signals particularly for non-mulesed declared wool,” Mr Grave said.

“AWEX updates and publishes these figures (below) in the premium and discount report.”

The review will consider all aspects of the NWD, technical and practical, as well as a broad range of topics, including:

 The relevance of the current mulesing status declarations, viz. Ceased Mulesing (CM), Non Mulesed (NM), Mulesed with Pain Relief (PR) and Mulesed (M).

 The potential inclusion of “other” breech modification alternatives or animal welfare declarations within the NWD.

 The user-friendliness of the NWD with respect to its correct completion by the owner/manager and data entry by wool broking staff.

 The NWD adoption rate and compliance, and how it is being received by industry.

 The NWD – Integrity Program (NWD-IP), involving desktop audits, verification of the use of PR, and on farm inspections for NM and CM.

NWD review submissions must be received by close of business on Monday, 1 July 2019.

All submissions must be in writing and include the name and address of the author/organisation. Emails are welcome.

To provide your submission to the 2019 NWD Review, please send to:

Dr Kerry Hansford

Secretary, ISAC

Gate 4, Frederick Rd

TOTTENHAM

VIC 3012

email: [email protected]