On the day that a NSW greyhound racing ban should have come into effect, the Greens are calling on airlines to step up and refuse to export greyhounds overseas.

Greens NSW animal welfare spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi says every incident of animal cruelty rests on the shoulders of the NSW Liberal, National and Labor parties who overturned the controversial ban last year.

"One thing is clear; we cannot rely on the government or other political parties to stop the cruelty," she said in a statement on Friday.

"Only people power can continue to expose the cruelty and pressure those companies that continue to profit from it."

Airlines can play a key role in reducing the suffering of racing greyhounds by not allowing racing greyhound freight services on international flights.

"In many cases welfare standards for these animals are almost non-existent," she said.

"For example, we know dogs in Macau are quite literally raced to death."

She said Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand have taken steps to stop the export of racing greyhounds while Virgin Australia, Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines haven't publicly made a stand.

Former Labor premier Morris Iemma was on Friday appointed chair of the Greyhound Racing NSW board and tasked with reforming the industry.

Mr Iemma last year led the state government panel set up to stamp out animal cruelty in the industry after then-premier Mike Baird sensationally overturned his ban on the sport.

All but one of the panel's 122 recommendations were adopted by the government, including the creation of an independent integrity commission, and tougher penalties, such as life bans for live baiting.

The government will soon appoint the three commissioners of the new independent Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission.