Goods may be classified by the following activity classes on the basis of their particular biological properties:
0 - no biotic activity (BA 0)
Nonliving goods, goods exhibiting passive behavior (porcelain, plastics, steel and chemical products)
1 - Goods displaying 1st order biotic activity (BA 1)
Living organisms with fully maintained intrinsic metabolism, in which anabolic metabolic processes predominate, e.g. livestock (domestic and zoo animals) and poultry. Anabolic and catabolic metabolic processes must be kept at least in equilibrium by appropriate feeding and care.
2 - Goods displaying 2nd order biotic activity (BA 2)
Living organisms, such as fruit (bananas, citrus fruits, pomaceous fruit), vegetables (tomatoes, sweet peppers, potatoes, onions), grains, legumes, oil-bearing seeds/fruits, in which respiration processes predominate, because their supply of new nutrients has been cut off by separation from the parent plant.
3 - Goods displaying 3rd order biotic activity (BA 3)
Goods in which respiration processes are suspended, but in which biochemical, microbial and other decomposition processes still proceed, such as meat, fish, processed grain products, dried fruits, spices, cocoa and coffee beans, tea, tobacco, expellers, fish meal, crystalline goods (sugar, salt, fertilizing salts). Such goods are not provided with hermetically sealed packaging.
4 - Goods displaying 4th order biotic activity (BA 4)
Goods in which biochemical and microbial processes have stopped and which are isolated from the external environment, e.g. sterilized and pasteurized goods in hermetically sealed packaging (preserved foods, beverages).