A method for controlling harmful fungi, which compries treating the fungi or the materials, plants, the soil or the seed to be protected against fungal attack and/or animal pests with an effective amount of at least one thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridine of the formula (I), in which n is 0, 1 or 2, the substituents R , R , R , have the following meanings: R , R , R : independently of one another are: hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl or phenyl which may be unsubstituted or carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from halogen, nitro, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, OCHF2 or CF3; and wherein A and R are as defined in claim 1.