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Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, will officially open Europe’s largest wool conference in Tralee, Co. Kerry this Saturday, March 27.
The Midlands North-West MEP has written to the European Commission seeking a reclassification that would allow farmers to use wool directly as fertiliser and reduce unnecessary costs on farms.
She said: “Wool is one of the most undervalued resources in European and Irish agriculture today, and nowhere is that more evident than in how it is treated under EU law. At the moment, wool falls into the same category as carcasses, blood and other animal by-products, despite posing significantly lower risks.
“This outdated classification means farmers are often forced to treat wool as waste – bearing the cost of storing, cleaning or disposing of it – rather than being able to use it productively on their own farms.
“This does not make sense. Wool is a natural, biodegradable material with real value. Its high nitrogen content and slow decomposition make it an excellent fertiliser, yet farmers are currently prohibited from applying it directly to their land without costly processing.”
She said a common-sense approach is needed: “The European Commission must review the Animal By-Products Regulation and introduce a lower-risk category for wool, recognising it for what it is: a renewable agricultural resource, not a liability.
“Reclassifying wool would reduce costs for farmers, cut unnecessary waste, and support more sustainable farming practices at a time when input costs remain high.
“As a farmer myself, and as someone representing regions with strong sheep farming traditions, I see first-hand the frustration of producers who cannot find a viable market for their wool. In many cases, the price received does not even cover the cost of shearing.”