MEP Walsh secures debate slot for wool at European Parliament

MIDLANDS-North-West MEP Maria Walsh has successfully added a debate on the issue of wool to the plenary agenda of European Parliament in Strasbourg for next week.

MEP Walsh has called on the European Parliament to end the designation of wool as a waste product and has previously written to the European Commission seeking a reclassification of wool at a time when farmers face high input costs and environmental obligations.

The Mayo MEP believes that such a move would allow farmers to better exploit its various uses, giving them an additional source of income and reducing supply costs.

“Wool is not waste, it is low-risk, biodegradable and an excellent source of fertiliser and insulation for use across the agriculture and construction sectors,” said MEP Walsh ahead of next week's debate.

“Despite this, EU rules fail to recognise the true value of wool and therefore limit its use,” she added.

Wool is currently classified as a waste product, falling into the same category as carcasses, blood and other animal by-products.

“The outdated classification means farmers are often forced to bear high costs of storing, cleaning or disposing of wool – rather than being able to use it productively on their own farms,” commented MEP Walsh.

“The addition of a debate on wool to the plenary agenda in Strasbourg next week is firm recognition of the importance of this issue to the agricultural sector.

“It allows us to bring the unfair classification to the attention of the entirety of the Parliament, and to increase pressure on the Commission to finally change these outdated rules."

Maria Walsh has secured a debate on the importance of wool for next week’s plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, marking another step in her campaign to have wool reclassified under European Union rules.