DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (Information
Bulletin ref:115/08) issued by The Government News Network on 25
April 2008
A review of the
British Wool Marketing Board has concluded that the Board
continues to provide an effective mechanism for the marketing of
wool in the UK. The review was commissioned jointly by Defra,
the Scottish Government, the Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development for Northern Ireland, and the Welsh Assembly
Government. The report's conclusions and recommendations have
been endorsed by Ministers from all four administrations and are
published on each of their websites.
The Board has indicated that it is likely to accept the
Review's recommendations, including making more transparent
and open its policy on exemptions, and continuing to drive down
marketing costs for low cost wool producers.
Notes to Editors
1. The BWMB was established in 1950 and
its powers are laid down under the British Wool Marketing Scheme
(Approval) Order 1950 and the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958.
2. It is the last remaining Marketing Board covered by the
Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. The Board operates a statutory
monopoly on the marketing of the majority of UK fleece wool.
3. It arranges the collection, storage, grading and the sale at
auction of this fleece wool.
4. The review of the BWMB is part of an ongoing process of
reviewing public bodies.
A copy of the review is available
on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/livestock/sheep/index.htm
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