L 71/30 Official Journal of the European Union 10.3.2004 COMMISSION DECISION of 4 March 2004 authorising laboratories to check the effectiveness of vaccination against rabies in certain domestic carnivores (notified under document number C(2004) 646) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/233[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 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 vaccines ('), and in particular Article 3 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Decision 2001/296EC of 29 March 2001 authorising laboratories to check the effectiveness of vaccination against rabies in certain domestic carni- vores (}) has been substantially amended several times (¥). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Deci- sion should be codified. (2)  Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(l) to Directive 90/425/EEC (*) provides for an alternative system to quarantine for the entry of certain domestic carnivores into the territory of certain Member States free from rabies. That system requires checks on the effectiveness of the vaccination of those animals by titration of antibodies. (3)  The AFSSA Laboratory in Nancy, France, was designated by Decision 2000/258/EC as the institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccination. (") OJ L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40. Decision as amended by Commission Decision 2003/60/EC (O] L 23, 28.1.2003, p. 30). () OJ L 102, 12.4.2001, p. 58. Decision as last amended by Decision 2002/341/EC (O] L 117, 4.5.2002, p. 13). (°) See Annex II. () OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Commis- sion Regulation (EC) No 1398/2003 (OJ L 198, 6.8.2003, p. 3). (4) A proficiency testing procedure has been established for rabies antibody titration of vaccinated domestic carni- vores in the context of alternative measures to quaran- tine. (5)  The AFSSA Laboratory, Nancy, has to operate the estab- lished proficiency testing procedure to appraise labora- tories for approval to perform serological tests on certain carnivores vaccinated against rabies. (6)  Several Member States have submitted applications for approval of laboratories to perform analyses to check the effectiveness of vaccination against rabies in certain domestic carnivores. (7)  The AFSSA Laboratory, Nancy, has made an appraisal of the applications received from the Member States and sent the result of this appraisal to the Commission. (8)  The Commission can draw up a list, based on appraisal results, of laboratories authorised to carry out serological titration on carnivores vaccinated against rabies. (9)  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: Atrticle 1 The laboratories presented by Member States and authorised to perform analyses to check the effectiveness of vaccination against rabies in certain domestic carnivores are listed in Annex L Atticle 2 Decision 2001/296EC is repealed. References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as refer- ences to this Decision and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex IIL