Fears EU regulation will force small wool producers out of business

SMALL wool merchants have recently expressed fears that European Union rules on the storage of wool will force many of them out of the business, a member of the European Parliament has warned.

Mairead McGuinness called on the Government to protect the interests of Irish wool merchants in a window of opportunity that has opened between now and March next when new regulations on animal by-products come into effect.

She was speaking after receiving written confirmation from EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli that the appropriate safeguards for the handling of wool will be reflected upon further.