WOOL pools manager The Merino Company is stepping up its supply-chain marketing by offering a guaranteed traceability from garment back to the farm.

TMC marketing manager Phoebe Croyle said the Sheep-to-Shelf traceability program would provide transparency and a guarantee of the integrity of the fibre throughout the supply chain.

The program coincides with the demands of major European and North American retailers and brands seeking assurance for a supply of unmulesed wool.

"Whether our customers require certified ceased or unmulesed wool, EU Eco-label-compliant wool, or wool produced under farm or environmental management systems, we can provide complete traceability and certification for each movement of the wool," Ms Croyle said.

Ms Croyle said to provide absolute certainty to those customers who sourced ceased or unmulesed wool, TMC would require all pool participants to provide a statutory declaration in addition to the AWEX National Wool Declaration when they delivered wool to TMC pools.

"In recognition of this, TMC will apply a premium for ceased and unmulesed-compliant Merino and crossbred wool lots in the TMC Pools," she said.

"Pool participants who declare ceased or unmulesed wool are subject to a random third party audit by AWEX."

Ms Croyle said interior textile designer and manufacturer Instyle was one of TMC's first customers to adopt the Sheep-to-Shelf program.

The push for supply-line guarantees had also been endorsed by direct-supply marketer NewMerino.

South Australian exporter and processor Michell is also moving into direct marketing through Michell Direct Wool, headed by former wool manager with Elders and ABB, Steven Read.

The latest initiatives by all three companies coincide with AWEX preparing to begin on-farm auditing of the NWD.

AWEX chief executive Mark Grave said three staff members were currently undergoing training and would begin random audits of wool next month.

With the NWD, growers can declare whether they used a mulesing pain-relief treatment, whether they have ceased mulesing, or whether the wool was shorn from unmulesed sheep.