Grower Accreditation Criteria

Section 7: Bale Pressing, identification & transport

7.1 Woolshed supplies

Requirement

New wool packs, bale clips, marker pens, branding fluid, pressing book (and pencil or pen) and paper for bale dividers must be available before shearing. Bale clips should be stored close to the press in a secure location to ensure that they do not fall in the wool.

Recommendation

Bale labels should be used for identification of brand, wool description, bale number and classer stencil.

Branding fluids

If branding fluids are used, only those designed specifically for marking wool packs may be applied.

7.2 Wool Packs

Requirement

New industry specification wool packs, appropriate to the type of wool must be used.
The only exception is for the use of recycled packs in mill contracts (See Packaging for Mill Contacts below).

Crossbred & Mid-micron

All wool must be packed in new packs. These may be polyethylene or nylon.

Merino

In order to meet customer requirements for minimal contamination, the fine section of the clip needs to be packed in nylon.

All Merino wool must be packed into new nylon wool packs.

7.3 Wool packaging standards

Requirement

There must be no wool that may become contaminated exposed or protruding from the bale.

All wool bales must be clearly and uniquely identified with the farm name and bale number using the attached label. Labels should be filled out using:

• Spirit based marker pens and inks, or
• Spirit based stamps, or
• Broker/buyer supplied stick-on labels.

The presser must also accurately record each bale number and contents in the pressing book before removing the bale from the press.

7.4 Wool Transport

Recommendation

Accredited growers should ensure the:

• Truck deck area is free of protrusions and contaminating materials or liquids.
• Bales are handled with care to avoid damage.
• Load is properly secured and protected against all weather conditions.

The grower is advised to specifically request that these requirements are met when arranging transport and to check when the truck arrives to collect the wool.

7.5 Wool Specification

Requirement

Each consignment of bales leaving the shed must be accompanied by a specification form. These forms, which are supplied by the broker, must be neatly and accurately completed by the accredited grower, classer or wool controller.

7.6 Packaging for Mill Contracts

Where an accredited grower has a contract supply arrangement with, or directly linked to, a yarn spinner or topmaker and the contract specifically provides for the use of recycled wool packs, the wool supplied under the contract may be packed in Packmark branded recycled packs.

Wool that is subsequently not supplied to the contract and not supplied to another contract with a spinner or topmaker allowing for recycled wool packs may not be sold with the accredited offering.

Requirement

If an accredited grower has entered into such a contract supply arrangement, their Farm Quality Plan must show a means of ensuring wool not supplied under the contract will not be packed in recycled wool packs.

Section 8 & 9 – Mill Contracts & Failure to Meet Accreditation Criteria