Decision 2000/258/EC designates the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (ANSES) in Nancy, France (previously known as the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments, AFSSA), as the specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines.

That Decision also provides that the ANSES is to document the appraisal of laboratories in third countries that have applied to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines.

The competent authority of Croatia has submitted an application for approval of the laboratory for rabies and general virology of the Veterinary Institute in that third country to perform such serological tests. That application is supported by a favourable report by the ANSES dated 20 September 2011 of the appraisal of that laboratory.

The competent authority of Mexico has submitted an application for approval of the laboratory in the Centro Nacional de Servicios de Diagnóstico en Salud Animal in that third country to perform such serological tests. That application is supported by a favourable report by the ANSES dated 20 September 2011 of the appraisal of that laboratory.

Those laboratories should therefore be authorised to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines in dogs, cats and ferrets.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,