Two of Australia's major clothing retailers say they are phasing out mulesed wool from their clothing range.
The move comes as there is a move to legislate pain relief for mulesing. (About 85 per cent of Australian farmers use pain relief).
Last year New Zealand banned the practice of mulesing altogether.
Meanwhile, Country Road Group and David Jones have announced a commitment to phase out mulesed sheep wool in their clothing.
Country Road Group has consulted with FOUR PAWS Australia and other stakeholders about phasing out mulesed wool.
Jessica Medcalf, Head of Programs of FOUR PAWS Australia, said: "Country Road Group's commitment and plan to phase out mulesed wool is a progressive step forward for animals and greater transparency for shoppers".
"Although many brands are against mulesing, many more continue to use mulesed wool with no end in sight. "Farmers across the country have told us they can transition away from mulesing within three to five years. "There is no excuse for mulesing to continue long-term."
Four Paws says mulesing causes millions of lambs to "suffer with acute pain lasting up to three days and wounds taking weeks to heal". Farmers say it is inhumane not to mulese to stop flystrike, but have adopted pain relief methods.
The organisation is calling on people to sign a global end mulesing petition, encouraging brands to take action and lobby for change.
Four Paws has launched a Wear It Kind campaign.
In July, NSW Farmers backed a call to mandate pain relief for mulesing.
In fact it was too close to call that the urgency motion, put forward by Floyd Legge from Cudal, went to a count with 86 for the motion and 54 against.
"We live in a changing world where consumer expectations are different," Mr Legge said.
"But we also must hold onto what is necessary and acknowledge the fact mulesing is a necessary operation for good animal welfare outcomes."
Speaking against the motion was Richard Croft who said mandating would be "opening a terrible can of worms".
"Never in my life have I see on the buying side do what they promise," Mr Croft said.
"The next thing, you will have somebody wandering up the shearing board with pain relief spray."
Mulesing was introduced to stop sheep suffering from flystrike.
David Jones animal welfare policy states: "David Jones expects our Private Label Suppliers to implement processes to ensure that all animals in the Private Label supply chain are treated humanely and with respect in practice. This includes ensuring that animals are:
- Not slaughtered inhumanely (2)
- Not subject to routine mutilation, including teeth clipping, tail docking, de-horning, de-budding, mulesing, beak trimming, castration, face-branding."