Commission Implementing Decision

of 2 December 2013

authorising a laboratory in the United States of America to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines

(notified under document C(2013) 8365)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2013/709/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Decision 2000/258/EC of 20 March 2000 designating a specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines1, and in particular Article 3(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Decision 2000/258/EC designates the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA) in Nancy, France (integrated since 1 July 2010 into the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail, ANSES), as the specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines.

(2)

That Decision 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.

(3)
Following the non-participation to the annual proficiency test organised by the ANSES in 2012, the authorisation granted on 20 November 2002 in accordance with Decision 2000/258/EC to the VETCOM Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, in Fort Sam Houston has been withdrawn in accordance with Commission Decision 2010/436/EU2.
(4)

The competent authority of the United States of America has submitted an application for re-approval of the VETCOM Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, in Fort Sam Houston which is supported by a favourable appraisal report established for that laboratory by the ANSES dated 16 September 2013.

(5)

The competent authority of the United States of America has also officially informed the Commission that the name of the laboratory has changed.

(6)

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

(7)

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In accordance with Article 3(2) of Decision 2000/258/EC, the following laboratory is authorised to perform the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines in dogs, cats and ferrets:

DoD Food Analysis & Diagnostic Laboratory

2899 Schofield Road

JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234

United States of America

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2014.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 2 December 2013.

For the Commission

Tonio Borg

Member of the Commission