1.1 The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) is a committee of the Virology Division of the International Union of Microbiological Societies. ICTV activities are governed by Statutes agreed with the Virology Division.

1.2 The Statutes define the objectives of the ICTV. These are:

(i)

to develop an internationally agreed taxonomy for viruses

(ii)

to develop internationally agreed names for virus taxa, including species and subviral agents.

(iii)

to communicate taxonomic decisions to the international community of virologists.

(iv)

to maintain an Index of virus names.

1.3 The Statutes also state that classification and nomenclature will be subject to Rules set out in an International Code.