RESPONSIBLE
WOOL
STANDARD
Earth to live with.
If possible
A little more harmonious.
RWS is all products obtained from sheep.
It is an international certification that verifies that it is produced in an animal-friendly way.
It may seem complicated, but in simple terms
Overseeing that the sheep are not starving without water and food, that they are not left injured and sick, that they are not suffering from fear or stress.
RWS certification consists of 5 categories and 54 items.
management
AW1.1 Parallel production (converting only a portion of the ranch to organic production and the remainder to conventional cultivation) is not permitted. All sheep ranches are managed in accordance with RWS certification.
AW1.2 The rancher must ensure that all operations and access to the ranch are accessible to the auditor in accordance with the certification.
AW1.3 Pastures must comply with all legislation relating to animal welfare and land management.
AW1.4 Ranchers should be familiar with current best practices (customs) related to land management and animal welfare for sheep production.
AW1.5 Workers must be trained and experienced in handling animals proficiently. They must have the knowledge, ability, and competent ability necessary for the health and welfare of animals. They should be familiar with current best practices for animal welfare and land management for sheep production.
AW1.6 All external workers working with sheep must be familiar with how their work must be conducted in order to meet RWS standards. Relevant records must be kept for at least 5 years.
facility
AW3.1 Shade, shelter and windshields should be provided to protect all sheep from inclement weather.
AW3.2 Stalls should be installed and maintained to minimize stress and avoid injury to the sheep.
AW3.3 All fences should be regularly inspected and well maintained.
AW3.4 The cages for indoor sheep must have sufficient space for the sheep to move freely and lie down.
AW3.5 A good-quality bed should be provided so as not to cause discomfort to sheep raised indoors.
AW3.6 Sheep raised indoors must have sufficient light during the day.
AW3.7 Indoor facilities should be well ventilated and maintained in a sanitary condition.
nutrition
AW2.1 Sheep must be able to receive nutrition appropriate for their age and condition to maintain good health and avoid starvation and malnutrition.
AW2.2 Sheep must be provided with an adequate supply of clean, safe water daily.
AW2.3 Sufficient space for grazing must be ensured and recorded. Appropriate grazing conditions should be secured in consideration of grassland management, amount of grass and the environment providing drinking water.
AW2.4 The physical condition of the sheep shall be observed and recorded daily, in accordance with the management system to ascertain the health of the sheep.
Changes in the diet of AW2.5 sheep should be done gradually.
AW2.6 Sheep are restricted from providing food and drinking water only for good reasons (cutting, transporting, slaughtering), not to exceed 24 hours.
AW2.7 Food should be well stored in warehouses.
AW2.8 The quantity and quality of food and water should be checked and monitored daily.
AW2.9 Provisions should be made to ensure that sheep have access to adequate food and water, even in exceptional circumstances (extreme climate change).
Animal Behavior and Care
health
AW4.1 The producer must have a health and welfare management plan for the sheep.
AW4.2 The rancher must closely observe the daily appearance of the sheep and observe and supervise the symptoms of disease or disorder.
AW4.3 Mortality should be maintained.
AW4.4 From internal and external parasite-related diseases (maggots, mites, lice, worms related to gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases) Preventive and controllable measures should be taken.
AW4.5 If a sheep is limping, it should be treated immediately and the risk factor for limping should be removed.
AW4.6 Any sheep found suffering from serious health problems must be treated promptly.
AW4.7 All health-related treatments in sheep must be properly managed and documented.
AW4.8 Good sanitation practices should be achieved with respect to facilities, staff, management and tools.
AW4.9 Farm management that may cause bodily harm (tail cutting, practice of castration) should be determined on the basis of an analysis of the risks and benefits of welfare rather than practices.
AW4.10 Animals should be managed and supervised by a manager with specialized knowledge, and the manager should be capable of taking action against problems.
AW4.11 Tail cutting is performed only when necessary, but only when the welfare of the animal concerned is feasible.
AW4.12 Castration is only performed on males past puberty.
AW4.13 Marking for classification of animals is carried out by following the best safety rules in accordance with the current animal welfare regulations.
AW4.14 Carving (cutting of horns) or decoration of antlers is prohibited except as necessary for animal welfare.
AW4.15 Mulling (removing wrinkles) is prohibited.
AW4.16 Shearing must be performed by, or under the supervision and supervision of, a professional with the skills and tools to minimize stress or trauma to the animal.
AW4.17 Any trauma that occurs during shearing must be treated promptly.
AW4.18 If the sheep is suffering from disease or trauma and there is no way to improve treatment, it should be euthanized without delay.
AW4.19 On-farm slaughtering of animals must be carried out quickly so as not to return to consciousness in such a way that the animal is subjected to the least amount of stress and suffering.
AW4.20 Breeding should be carried out in a manner commensurate with the welfare of the lambs, taking into account the environment in which they will be raised.
AW4.21 Artificial breeding should be carried out by managers with specialized knowledge.
AW4.22 Birth planning should be managed and supervised, and should be dealt with appropriately when necessary to minimize damage to the herd. Considering the smooth delivery and the welfare of the mother sheep, it minimizes the stress of the mother sheep after childbirth and manages it to facilitate the feeding of the lambs.
AW4.23 Before the birth of a lamb, a calving plan should be established in accordance with the viability and welfare of the lamb, taking into account local climate conditions.
AW4.24 A plan should be made for the feeding of the lamb or for the feeding of the lamb (feeding by another mother of the same species) prior to farrowing of the pregnant sheep.
AW5.1 When acclimatizing rams to new packs, they must be monitored for aggression and under constant supervision.
AW5.2 Isolation of sheep from the herd should be minimized.
AW5.3 Treat animals humanely, and cruelty to animals is absolutely prohibited.
AW5.4 It is prohibited to keep animals in cages for a long time or to keep them on a leash for a long time.
AW5.5 Sheep must be moved at an appropriate speed and not forcefully as they can cause burnout, heat exhaustion, or injury when moving.
AW5.6 When a rancher is required to transport sheep, this must be done in accordance with RWS transport standards or local laws.
AW5.7 Ranchers should record animal injuries and mortality and suggest measures to reduce injury frequency and mortality.
AW5.9 Sheep managers must be well trained in their sheepdogs and be able to control them when herding sheep.
AW5.9 All animals in the house must be treated humanely.
