(1) all kinds of microorganisms are accepted except those classified within risk group 3 of the classification system published by the Berufsgenossenschaft der chemischen Industrie in Germany (Merkblatt 006 Bakterien). This list takes into consideration the European classification system (Council Directive 93/88/EEC, Official Journal of the European Communities No. L 268, 29.10.1993, p. 71)

(2) sufficient data are urgently requested to allow a well-founded risk assessment.

(3) strains sent for deposit in the general collection should have been used in work either already published, or in work prepared for publication. Strains deposited in this manner are available to the national and international community, in both academic and industrial institutions.

(4) cultures sent for deposit must be pure cultures or defined mixed cultures.

(5) genetically manipulated strains are accepted for deposit which can be handled according to safety level S1 and S2 [Berufsgenossenschaft der chemischen Industrie, Merkblatt 008 Gentechnisch veränderte Organismen; Gesetz zur Regelung der Gentechnik (GenTG), Bundesgesetzblatt I, 2067-2083, 21.12.93] or group I [Council Directive of 23 April 1990 on the contained use of genetically modified microorganisms (90/219/EEC)].

(6) patent deposits (under the Budapest Treaty; Bundesgesetzblatt II, 1980 p. 1104) and safe deposits (remain the property of the depositor) are accepted for deposit except risk group 3 organisms according to the classification system of the Berufsgenossenschaft der chemischen Industrie in Germany (Merkblatt 006 Bakterien).

(7) it must be possible to preserve the deposited material by (freeze)-drying or storage in liquid nitrogen without significant change.