The potential spread of infectious animal diseases, including zoonosis, poses a threat to global animal and public health, and could have a devastating impact on the economic livelihoods of producers and exporters in developing countries. A country's ability to detect, control and eradicate animal diseases is often linked to the quality of its Veterinary Services. With consumer demand and opportunities for international trade in animal products increasing, there was a need for a common tool to evaluate the performance of national Veterinary Services against internationally recognized standards.