WPA president Don Hamblin said wool industry stakeholders and regulators in Australia and abroad have been "nervously awaiting the outcome" of the AWI elections and what they would mean for the industry's mulesing policy.

"This statement regarding mulesing should give them some comfort," Mr Hamblin said.

"It is now up to the company and its new chairman to follow through on this commitment.

"While AWI too often gets caught in industry politics and the emotion of director's elections, at the end of the day it is an R&D company, which is in receipt of significant taxpayer and growers funds for the purpose of research.

"Finding alternatives to mulesing is the most important R&D project it has."

In the statement issued by Mr Merriman on Friday, in which he said there had been no fundamental change to AWI's position on mulesing as a result of the board election.

Mr Merriman said a resolution of the previous board in regard to flystrike prevention passed in March this year was still the AWI's position on the mulesing phase out by 2010.

WoolProducers said the statement was a positive move which would reassure nervous international customers.

"A number of the incoming directors had based their election on the promise that they will facilitate a continuation of mulesing beyond 2010, yet this is clearly at odds with what a number of our international customers and domestic groups such as the RSPCA and Australian Veterinary Association would like us to do," Mr Hamblin said.

"The board will now need to somehow reconcile these two positions in the interests the industry and this statement is a start."

Mr Hamblin considered increasing the price of wool, addressing falling flock numbers, combating the increased difficulty in controlling lice and finding alternatives to mulesing as pressing challenges for the new board.