The Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce claims Hugo Boss has been misled by PETA, which claims that using mulesing clips is cruel to sheep.
International retailer Hugo Boss last week said it would cease to buy wool from mulesed sheep, causing a fresh stir within the industry.
But the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce says it welcomes Hugo Boss's support for the phase out of mulesing by the end of 2010, arguing the company's position is "entirely consistent with the industry position taken in 2004 to phase out mulesing by 2010 which we will confidently do".
However, the Taskforce has again hit out at extremist animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), saying it is "peddling misinformation to retailers about the Australian wool industry's alternative flystrike prevention methods, in particular about the animal welfare science behind the clips technology".
"PETA's claims that the clips are 'cruel' are designed to deliberately mislead retailers in order to drive the Australian wool industry out of business," said Don Hamblin, chairman of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce Operations Group.
"PETA's so-called ‘expert’ on the clips, Nedim Buyukmihci, is a self confessed vegan of 21 years and admits he is opposed to the use of anything related to animals and all forms of livestock farming.
"It is of no surprise that he would not support the clips."
Mr Hamblin said the clips were developed in line with the industry's commitment to deliver effective and ethical alternative flystrike prevention methods to mulesing and that they successfully meet those criteria.
"Let us be very clear on this - the use of clips does not constitute mulesing – the clips are proven scientifically and constitute a very effective alternative to prevent flystrike," he said.
A recent study by Professor Paul Hemsworth, director of the Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of Melbourne, found that the clips technology had only a mild, brief impact on the lambs when applied and that the welfare risks were minor.
"Any retailer decisions to not accept clips as a suitable alternative could be in contravention of good corporate social responsibility, as it would increase the risk of attack by blowflies and death for millions of sheep," Mr Hamblin said.
"The decision to phase out purchasing wool from farms that no longer practice mulesing after 2010 is not a 'victory' for PETA.
"It is part of a long term Agreement between Australian woolgrowers and the international retail industry."