10.8.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 209/19 COMMISSION DECISION of 9 August 2010 implementing Council Decision 2000/258/EC as regards proficiency tests for the purposes of maintaining authorisations of laboratories to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines (notified under document C(2010) 5421) (Text with EEA relevance) (2010/436/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 vaccines ('), and in particular Article 3(3) thereof, Whereas: Decision 2000/258/EC designates the laboratory of the Agence francaise de sécurité sanitaire des aliments de Nancy (‘AFSSA, Nancy), as the specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for stan- dardising the serological tests to monitor the effec- tiveness of rabies vaccines. That Decision also lays down the duties of that laboratory. In particular, AFSSA, Nancy is to appraise the labora- tories in Member States and third countries for the purposes of their authorisation to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines. In addition, AFSSA, Nancy is to organise inter-laboratory aptitude tests (proficiency tests). In view of maintaining the authorisation granted to such laboratories, AFSSA, Nancy has, since the year 2000, been organising proficiency tests at least once per year. Experience has shown that those proficiency tests provide an effective system of monitoring the laboratories which carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines. () O] L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40. () (10) ) ) O] O] Article 3 of Decision 2000/258/EC does not include any provisions concerning the maintenance of authorisations already granted to laboratories in Member States or in third countries to carry out such serological tests. In order to ensure the uniform application of that Article, it is appropriate to make the maintenance of those au- thorisations dependant on appraisal reports established by AFSSA, Nancy following the proficiency tests of the laboratories concerned. It is therefore appropriate to lay down rules for the regular carrying out of the proficiency tests by AFSSA, Nancy, as well as for the drawing up of the appraisal reports. The carrying out of the proficiency tests by AFSSA, Nancy is currently included in the yearly approved work programme for that laboratory. That work programme benefits from financial aid from the Union, granted pursuant to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field (?). From 1 January 2011, the costs incurred by AFSSA, Nancy for carrying out proficiency tests should no longer be covered by such financial aid from the Union. However, in order to ensure that it has adequate resources to carry out proficiency tests, AFSSA, Nancy should charge certain fees to the labora- tories which take part in those tests. Those fees should be fixed by AFSSA, Nancy taking into account the criteria laid down in Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (3). L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30. L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1.