Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee is urging the the European Commission to urgently change EU rules that classify wool as a waste product.

Walsh is set to open Europe’s largest wool conference in Tralee, Co Kerry this Saturday 27 March.

The MEP has written to the European Commission calling for wool to be reclassified, allowing farmers to use wool as fertiliser, to reduce unneeded costs on farms.

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Walsh spoke on how wool is an undervalued resource in European and Irish agriculture due to 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,” she said.

“This outdated classification means farmers are often forced to treat wool as waste, bearing the cost of storing, cleaning or disposing of it, rather than being able to use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."

The European Commission must review the animal by-products regulation and introduce a lower-risk category for wool

Walsh stated that wool is a natural, biodegradable material with real value due its high nitrogen content and slow decomposition, making it a great fertiliser, “yet farmers are currently prohibited from applying it directly to their land without costly processing,” she said.

“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.

Walsh said that reclassification of wool would result in reduced costs and reduced unnecessary waste for farmers while supporting sustainable farming practices.

“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.

“European Wool Day is an important opportunity to bring this issue to the fore. We need stronger voices from across the sector to engage with policymakers in Brussels and ensure that wool finally gets the recognition it deserves,” she concluded.