Representatives from international fashion house Hugo Boss have been personally invited by the NSW Government and the NSW Farmers' Association to visit sheep farms in that State in a bid to prevent a boycott of Australian wool.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald and Farmers' Association president Jock Lauire today issued the joint invitation in response to the fashion giant's decision to phase out the use of wool from farms that perform mulesing, as well as the main alternative, clip mulesing.
"This is a simple case of misinformation – that's why we want Hugo Boss representatives to visit the hard working farmers of our State and see first-hand that farmers are doing their best to prevent fly strike, which is one of the most serious issues affecting our wool industry," Mr Macdonald said.
"Currently the reality is that over three million sheep could die annually if mulesing is not carried out.
"I want to make it very clear to the company that our wool industry is working overtime to identify an alternative that provides our sheep the same protection from flesh eating maggots and we have already set a target of 2010."
Mr Laurie said it was important that Hugo Boss base any commercial decision upon the facts and not what they may hear from animal rights groups.
"The wool industry is continuing to develop alternatives to mulesing and these alternatives are being evaluated by independent bodies such as the Australian Veterinary Association," Mr Laurie said.
"Hugo Boss's announcement is a concern for the industry, especially when millions of dollars and many years of research have already been invested into developing non-surgical alternatives such as breech clips.
"The industry has made a commitment to phase out surgical mulesing, and industry and Government bodies are working hard together to deliver these alternatives."