The principle of designating type material in codes of nomenclature in support of taxonomic descriptions is an important aspect in linking the names of taxa to the descriptions and the biological material to which they are meant to refer. In the case of species and subspecies type strains, one can examine those strains physically and carry out appropriate experimental work to confirm existing findings or expand on the dataset. As such, the availability of such strains is of central importance in a comparative science. The present article examines a number of issues relating to the availability of this important material and raises a series of points for public debate.