4 January 2010 -- In close association with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), GREP, a key element within the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES), was conceived as an international coordination mechanism to promote the global eradication of rinderpest and verification of rinderpest freedom, while providing technical guidance to achieve these goals. From the outset, GREP was a time-bound programme, due to declare rinderpest freedom by 2011. Further certification and verification are still needed before key partners declare the world rinderpest-free.