The Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of the Suborder Micrococcineae of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes has agreed on minimal standards for describing new genera and species of the suborder Micrococcineae. The minimal standards are intended to provide bacteriologists involved in the taxonomy of members of the suborder Micrococcineae with a set of essential requirements for the description of new taxa. In addition to sequence data comparisons of 16S rRNA genes or other appropriate conservative genes, phenotypic and genotypic criteria are compiled which are considered essential for the comprehensive characterization of new members of the suborder Micrococcineae. Additional features are recommended for the characterization and differentiation of genera and species with validly published names.