[Fleecewife]

Not quite sure where to put this.  I have some enquiries for fleece from the US.  Does anyone know the regs for exporting there?  Or even where I can find them.  I know that some countries require the fleece to be washed/scoured before it can enter their country, but I'm not sure about the US.

[Dan]

Try the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/

They deal with the import of textiles and clothing, and if they don't deal with raw fleeces they should be able to tell you who does.

[kanisha]

as far as I'm aware fleeces sent should be washed and not raw

[Fleecewife]

Thank you all for the help and advice - I will see what I can find.  I can wash the odd fleece, although my customers would prefer them raw.

Worzel - I agree in principal, but Hebridean sheep are not found in America.  There are a few flocks in the Netherlands but otherwise it is a breed firmly based in Britain.  It would be wonderful if there were satelite flocks around the world, for the safety of the breed in the event of a major disease outbreak here, but so far it has been too expensive to set up flocks elsewhere.  The fleeces I would export are to hand spinners who want to experience the different and specific qualities of a Hebridean fleece - as a spinner myself, with carefully produced, shorn, skirted and stored fleeces, I do get plenty of enquiries from Britain, but also many from abroad.  I used to have a small business producing quality crossbred fleeces for a specialist spinner group, but family illness meant I had to get rid of that flock and I no longer sell fleeces as a business, just to help people out who want to try this particular rare breed fleece.  I would not be sending large quantities of fleece overseas, just the occasional individual one, but I would rather they weren't confiscated at customs.  I think it is worth the hassle, although not financially, just to be part of the international sisterhood of spinners.

[fleeced]

I think fleece has to be scoured first. Are you on Ravelry? Im sure there was a discussion about this on one of the groups Im in, I'll have a look when I get chance.

[kanisha]

no ouessants in the US either...

[Fleecewife]

The difficulty with setting up flocks overseas is the import regulations at the other end.  I was involved in trying to set up a flock on an island off the coast of Australia, which would have been a perfect place.  However, Oz will not allow live imports of sheep so it would all have to be done by implantation of fertilised eggs into a host ewe.  The cost to import a sufficiently diverse start-up flocks-worth of ova was in the region of £20,000 7 years ago and unfortunately the potential new flock owner simply couldn't afford it.  The HebSoc itself doesn't have that kind of financial backing so can't help.  We clearly need a rich sugar-daddy  
Of course there are all sorts of islands closer to home, offshore of some of the European countries, but we have had no requests for stock......  The Rare Breeds Survival Trust would be the body to look into it, for other breeds which are on its endangered list, although I doubt they would be interested in Hebrideans any more as they are no longer so rare, but as always it's the finance which is the problem.
I can think of someone else who is better at raising finance and stirring support than I am who just might like to take on such a problem....watch this space  

No probs  

If there are aren't many flocks, it's a real shame, as you say an unexpected disease outbreak could wipe the breed out for good.  

Not wanting to volunteer you for something but perhaps you could be the founder of a society to spread hebredian flocks worldwide? Great little conservation project, wouldn't cost much, just a bit of organisation and raising awareness etc. I'm surprised it's not been done by someone already because nowadays people want to try to preserve rare breeds.

Good luck with selling the fleeces/promoting the breed etc.

[Fleecewife]

I think fleece has to be scoured first. Are you on Ravelry? Im sure there was a discussion about this on one of the groups Im in, I'll have a look when I get chance.

Yes please 

[wytsend]

I have the direct telephone of the Export Office of Defra.... they will be able to give you chapter and verse.   They are very helpful... speak to them quite a bit when I am exporting goats.  This office deals with both live & deadstock which fleece would be.
Tel -01647 231456.

[fleeced]

The consensus Ive seen on Ravelry discussions seems to be that you cant post raw fleece to America, you can import anything you like form America and between EU countries. Obviously this is just from discussions between spinners in the UK, EU and US, its not 'official' in that sense. I think scoured wool is ok to send, its  all to do with disease prevention I believe.