Retail giant announces Aussie wool ban | Business

Peter Mitchell | 6th January 2009

Australian farmers have been dealt another blow with an Asian clothing giant joining the growing global boycott of Australian wool.

South Korea-based Kukdong Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of the Pierre Cardin, NAFNAF and Jack & Jill brands, announced it is "committed to eliminating Australian wool from our supply chain completely".

Kukdong is opposed to Australian wool farmers' use of the controversial technique of mulesing and joins retail giants Nike, Gap, Marks & Spencer, Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland, H&M, American Eagle, Columbia Sports Wear and Liz Claiborne in the protest.

US-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has led the global ban.

Kukdong's chief executive SK Byun confirmed the company would seek wool from countries other than Australia.

"Our customers demand ethically sourced material, and as a result Kukdong Corporation is committed to eliminating Australian wool from our supply chain completely," Kukdong chief executive SK Byun wrote in an email to PETA.

"We are looking into suppliers in other countries where mulesing does not happen, and we will look at Australian wool again once mulesing has stopped."

Mulesing involves farmers slicing skin from a sheep's behind to protect it from maggot infestation.

The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has pledged to phase out mulesing by 2010, but as the deadline approaches there have been moves to not adhere to it.

PETA vowed to keep up the campaign.

"From Europe and North America to Asia, companies the world over are opposed to mulesing and taking their business outside of Australia," Matt Prescott, director of PETA Corporate Affairs, said.

"AWI and the Australian woolgrowers would be wise to do as they should have years ago and stop mulesing once and for all."

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