A hub for International Wool, Textile and Product Testing

NZWTA a hub for International Wool, Textile and Product Testing

Global wool and textile trade continues despite closed borders and COVID 19 restrictions. Manufacturers are continuing to source raw materials and products from foreign producers. Specifications provide certainty for these purchases, and give buyers the ability to predict processing performance. These specifications become more and more important to those who are not able to see the products before they buy. This is very relevant in our current “Covid” world.

A key part of the success of this trade is the ability to purchase raw materials and manufactured goods with measurements that enable certainty around their performance. Wool and product testing are the key to this trade. Test results provide confidence of performance and the New Zealand Wool Testing Authority Ltd (NZWTA) has a growing international reputation for carrying out these tests for customers both in New Zealand, and from overseas.

International testing hub

For international wool producers or processors, having access to a testing facility may not be easy to achieve if it is not readily available in their country. Not all countries accept foreign wool for testing, and not all test houses have a complete set of tests on offer. Because it has access to robust quarantine procedures, prompt service times, a wide range of key tests on offer, and an international reputation for high quality certification, NZWTA has increasingly become an international hub for wool and product testing. Even though New Zealand sits remotely at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, the success of NZWTA’s international testing is due to a number of factors. It’s access to international freight services enables it to provide wool testing services to a growing number of international wool and textile customers. Traditional wool testing and certification is now being undertaken for wool producers outside of New Zealand. NZWTA regularly tests wool from Chile, Falkland Islands, USA, Canada, and Kenya.

Reducing barriers to trade

New Zealand’s robust and effective quarantine protocols allow the importation of samples into New Zealand from all over the world. Whilst there is a need to protect New Zealand from biological risk and avoid potentially harmful pests and diseases, our Ministry for Primary Industries also focuses on facilitating trade and reducing barriers, allowing easier and faster across border processing. Details of how to send samples to NZWTA are available on our website https://www.nzwta.co.nz/ importing-samples/

Extensive suite of tests

NZWTA’s wool laboratory has an extensive list of tests for raw and

processed wool. Tests like yield and Vegetable matter, micron, and Conditioned Weight are common. Other valuable tests such as colour can help when there is a perceived issue and not a real problem. These tests, which are not all widely offered in other laboratories, are regularly used by NZWTA customers to better describe their wool. For some wool producers perceived problems can be quantified and their impact minimised. NZWTA’s textile and product testing division also has a comprehensive list of tests available. A list of tests fees and terms and conditions are available on the NZWTA website link using the link https://www.nzwta.co.nz/ fees-and-t-and-c/.

International environmental agencies demand strict regulations relating to chemical (pesticide) residue levels in wool. NZWTA Ltd and Agrifood Technology Ltd (Australia) have expanded their capabilities to analyse chemical residues in raw wool samples from anywhere in the world. This is a positive addition to the extensive range of services offered by the laboratories, and continues to support both domestic and international wool trade through the provision of accurate, timely and cost efficient residue testing. Agrifood Technology, based in Melbourne, Australia is the only testing facility in the world with ISO 17025 accreditation status for the chemical analysis of raw wool residues under the IWTO standard DTM-59. Conducted under license from the CSIRO, analysis is performed on extracts taken from wool samples in New Zealand using patented equipment and processes. These systems are independently reviewed and accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ). NZWTA also offers various forms of flammability testing services to support the wider textiles and building materials industries. Until recently its scope of accredited tests was relatively small. A recent review of NZWTA operations and services has seen an investment into new testing equipment which has allowed us to extend our suite of accredited flammability tests. This accreditation will provide customers withconfidence in our test results and knowledge involved in these tests.

Document security

Certificate verification has been a popular service offered through the NZWTA website whereby purchasers of wool can verify the certificates they have been sent by fax or email, to ensure they are genuine certificates. This process can be accessed on the website by entering the test number and the verification code from the copy of the certificate. A secure copy of the certificate will be emailed back to you

NZWTA certificates have a strong reputation in the market place for providing independent and reliable measurement of the qualities of the wool and textiles which are fair to both buyer and seller. Samples are either provided by the customer and are issued as “Test Reports”, or they are sampled by NZWTA officers and are be issued as certificates.