The cost of down feathers is quickly rising because of the current bird flu epidemic and some exceptionally cold winters in big markets, according to an official of Allied Feathers & Down. This may affect animal welfare, he adds: As prices increase, unscrupulous suppliers will try to offer material from questionable sources putting brands and the industry at risk.
After speaking with government officials, AF&D has concluded that the situation has turned for the worse in recent weeks as new cases of bird flu have been spotted in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the U.K. Flock sizes have been reduced by between 25 and 60 percent due to the virus, which has been found to have originated in Mongolia some 18 months ago.
AF&D has issued a new market report on the bird flu epidemic where it reassures customers that all the down that has been booked by them so far for this and future seasons will be secure and safe for use, with no risk of virus in the material. This is because AF&D pre-purchases and stocks the material based on the clients' commitments.
The company also says that prices have remained unchanged for the material ordered so far, but it cannot tell how the disease will affect pricing for future seasons.
AF&D points out that it has certified 100 percent of its global supply chain. It pre-purchases the raw material on behalf of its clients, holding large reserves to offset the risks of an inherently unstable market. Not many suppliers have the supply chain partners or the ability to do this, says the company.
