Greyhounds NSW charge 179 people over alleged dog exports to Macau

Greyhound Racing NSW has charged 179 people over allegations of unauthorised exports of greyhounds to Macau.

The export of greyhounds to Macau was suspended in 2013, after Greyhounds Australasia found the Chinese administrative region did not comply with Australian animal welfare standards.

The organisation's investigation and intelligence unit has been compiling evidence as part of an investigation launched in December, which led to the charges being laid, a statement advised.

A Greyhound Racing NSW spokesman declined to comment on who had been charged, how many dogs had been sent to Macau and when they were sent.

The 179 charged people have been listed as "industry participants", and are believed to be dog owners and trainers.

The Greyhound Racing Rules require that people intending to export dogs from Australia meet quarantine and inspection rules and get a Greyhounds Australasia 'greyhound passport'.

But passports listing Macau as the destination have been suspended since 2013.

Greens animal welfare spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon said the industry needed to be shut down.

"The sheer scale of the number of trainers involved shows that this systemic abuse of the rules can't be fixed," she said.

"The fact trainers have been exporting dogs despite a ban and perhaps even whilst the special commission of inquiry is investigating the industry is appalling."

With AAP.