AWI responds to PETA accusations

SYDNEY: The Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce has accused animal welfare groups of attempting to sabotage a planned meeting with Swedish retail chain H&M.

The accusation comes less than a day after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) put out a statement claiming the Australian wool industry had "reneged" on a promise to phase out the practice of mulesing sheep - a technique used by farmers to prevent flystrike - by 2010.

The statement also contained details of an email allegedly sent to PETA from H&M head of environment and corporate social responsibility Ingrid Schullstrom in which she said would start looking for non-mulesed wool alternatives sourced from countries other than Australia.

However Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce operation group chairman Don Hamblin raised concerns over the timing of the PETA publicity, claiming it came just days before a planned meeting with H&M company executives.

"Myself and other members of the taskforce will be meeting with representatives of H&M in Stockholm and it seems unusual than this publicity comes just days out from this meeting."

Hamblin also disputed the claims by PETA that it had "reneged" on its commitment to stamp out mulesing.

In November 2004 Australian wool and sheep industry leaders unanimously committed to phasing out the practice by December 2010.

Hamblin said the industry was well on track to meet its commitment to retailers.

"[But} stopping mulesing now, without effective alternatives, would leave so many sheep susceptible to a painful, horrible death from being eaten by maggots. Mulesing is supported as necessary by the RSPCA, the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian Government. Even PETA has agreed to a moratorium not to target retailers until the end of 2010."