On Monday 2 March, the EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) called for greater economic and regulatory recognition of European wool, which is currently under-valued.
The organisation advocates active promotion of its marketing, both in the textile industry and in other industrial value chains, such as construction, insulation and decoration.
Copa-Cogeca believes it is essential to develop a genuine European wool-washing industry and to improve the way wool is marketed to consumers.
The organisation considers the current classification of raw wool in Regulation 1069/2009 on animal by-products to be inappropriate. Classified as category 3, wool from healthy animals is subject to administrative constraints deemed excessive, even though it presents a very low health risk. Copa-Cogeca is therefore proposing the creation of a specific low-risk category or, failing that, a significant reduction in the existing obligations.
It also calls for the explicit introduction of “low-risk use on the farm”, allowing raw wool to be used as fertiliser or compost, without specific health authorisation.
Further details: https://aeur.eu/f/kz6 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)