They've urged him to reject advice from the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW) that those controls be lifted.

Three years ago, Tasmanian breeders of Merinos, the breed for which the state is internationally known, successfully lobbied for sheep meat breeds, new to Tasmania - the Dorper, Damara, Awassi and Karakul, to be closely regulated.

That's because of a perceived threat that they could contaminate Tasmania’s wool clip and damage the state's valuable brand.

This year, Mr Llewellyn ordered DPIW to review the restrictions, under which those exotic breeds are termed “prescribed” breeds. DPIW has advised him to drop the restrictions.

“Our belief is that the review conducted by DPIW was fundamentally flawed, incorrect and incomplete,” Marcus McShane, chairman of the Wool Council of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), said today.

“If these breeds were delisted, and deregulated, the risk to the state’s traditional flocks would be massive.

“Tasmania has a reputation for its wool being clean and safe.

"We differentiate ourselves in the market because of the quality of our wool.

"It is our major marketing tool, our point of difference."

Tasmania is the only state that controls the operations of these exotic breeds, yet despite being regulated, Mr McShane said, that sector of the industry had still grown from three registered

growers in 2005 to 51 growers oday.

He said the TFGA wanted the Government to retain the regulations for another five years, when they should be reviewed again.

“Industry and anecdotal evidence is that the impact of

contamination from exotic sheep breeds on the overall clip is only slowly emerging,” Mr McShane said.