(1) all kinds of plant cell cultures are accepted except those which for reasonable arguments might be classified within risk group L3 defined for other organisms in the classification system published by the Berufsgenossenschaft der chemischen Industrie in Germany (Merkblatt 006 Bakterien, Merkblatt 007 Pilze). 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) genetically manipulated strains are accepted for deposit which can be handled according to group I [Council Directive of 23 April 1990 on the contained use of genetically modified microorganisms (90/219/EEC)] or (for Germany) 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]

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

(4) strains sent for deposit in the general collection should be of general interest for the scientific community, for industry or other public bodies.

(4a) they should have been used in work either already published, or in work prepared for publication.

(4b) they may have been initiated from species with specific traits interesting for the scientific community, for industry or other public bodies

(4c) they may have been initiated from plants from endangered species

(4d) they may have been initiated from taxonomically rare or interesting species

Strains deposited in this manner are available to the national and international community, in both academic and industrial institutions.

(5) cultures sent for deposit must be pure cultures and free of microbial and viral contaminations.

(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) cell lines for patent deposit must be preservable by a long-term method for example by storage in liquid nitrogen without significant change; preservation may be carried out as a service by the collection centre.

(8) all other cell lines should be preservable by a long-term method for example by storage in liquid nitrogen without significant change; cell lines of special interest for the scientific community, for industry or other public bodies.