ANIMAL activists have threatened the Australian wool industry with a "world of hurt" if Australian Wool Innovation's newly elected directors do not support a 2010 mulesing deadline.
Following the election of four new directors who are opposed to the looming deadline to end mulesing, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals told the ABC’s Lateline program that the $2.5 billion industry now faces a major backlash from overseas buyers and guaranteed protests.
"There are already dozens of retailers who have already committed in writing to not buy mules wool after 2010," PETA Asia-Pacific directr Jason Baker said. "So I think the wool industry is going to be in for a world of hurt if they let this commitment pass."
New AWI chairman, Wal Merriman, told Lateline that farmers would not be tied to the deadline and could choose any method they wanted to produce wool, including mulesing.
"You do what’s best for your animals," Mr Merriman said. "There will be a range of options and the market will decide."
But Brian van Rooyen, who lost control of the Board tonight, warned the local industry was doomed if it failed to stop mulesing.
"Almost without exception all our customers overseas, all the retailers and brands that are actually responsible for putting Australian Merino wool on shelves – all of them have indicated to us that we must meet our commitment to 2010," Mr van Rooyen said.
Story was first published on November 19, 2008.
