diff --git a/shares.py b/shares.py
index 52d141689..a30270f61 100644
--- a/shares.py
+++ b/shares.py
@@ -35,18 +35,13 @@ from utils import removeDomainPort
 from utils import isAccountDir
 from utils import acctDir
 from utils import isfloat
+from utils import getCategoryTypes
 from media import processMetaData
 from filters import isFilteredGlobally
 from siteactive import siteIsActive
 from content import getPriceFromString
 
 
-def _dfcProductTypes() -> []:
-    # this list should match the ontology json files
-    # eg. ontology/foodTypes.json
-    return ['food', 'tool', 'clothes', 'medical']
-
-
 def _loadDfcIds(baseDir: str, systemLanguage: str,
                 productType: str) -> {}:
     """Loads the product types ontology
@@ -168,13 +163,14 @@ def _addShareDurationSec(duration: str, published: int) -> int:
     return 0
 
 
-def _dfcProductTypeFromCategory(itemCategory: str, translate: {}) -> str:
+def _dfcProductTypeFromCategory(baseDir: str,
+                                itemCategory: str, translate: {}) -> str:
     """Does the shared item category match a DFC product type?
     If so then return the product type.
     This will be used to select an appropriate ontology file
     such as ontology/foodTypes.json
     """
-    productTypesList = _dfcProductTypes()
+    productTypesList = getCategoryTypes(baseDir)
     categoryLower = itemCategory.lower()
     for productType in productTypesList:
         if translate.get(productType):
@@ -195,7 +191,8 @@ def _getshareDfcId(baseDir: str, systemLanguage: str,
     """
     # does the category field match any prodyct type ontology
     # files in the ontology subdirectory?
-    matchedProductType = _dfcProductTypeFromCategory(itemCategory, translate)
+    matchedProductType = \
+        _dfcProductTypeFromCategory(baseDir, itemCategory, translate)
     if not matchedProductType:
         itemType = itemType.replace(' ', '_')
         itemType = itemType.replace('.', '')
@@ -1452,7 +1449,7 @@ def _dfcToSharesFormat(catalogJson: {},
     sharesJson = {}
 
     dfcIds = {}
-    productTypesList = _dfcProductTypes()
+    productTypesList = getCategoryTypes(baseDir)
     for productType in productTypesList:
         dfcIds[productType] = _loadDfcIds(baseDir, systemLanguage, productType)
 
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index d36cc1b5a..54c253220 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ from follow import clearFollowers
 from follow import sendFollowRequestViaServer
 from follow import sendUnfollowRequestViaServer
 from siteactive import siteIsActive
+from utils import getCategoryTypes
 from utils import getSupportedLanguages
 from utils import setConfigParam
 from utils import isGroupActor
@@ -5190,7 +5191,8 @@ def _testGetPriceFromString() -> None:
 
 
 def _translateOntology() -> None:
-    ontologyTypes = ('food', 'clothes', 'tool', 'medical')
+    baseDir = os.getcwd()
+    ontologyTypes = getCategoryTypes(baseDir)
     url = 'https://translate.astian.org'
     apiKey = None
     ltLangList = libretranslateLanguages(url, apiKey)
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index ef736db09..bd00247df 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -2810,3 +2810,19 @@ def getSupportedLanguages(baseDir: str) -> []:
                 languagesStr.append(lang)
         break
     return languagesStr
+
+
+def getCategoryTypes(baseDir: str) -> []:
+    """Returns the list of ontologies
+    """
+    ontologyDir = baseDir + '/ontology'
+    categories = []
+    for subdir, dirs, files in os.walk(ontologyDir):
+        for f in files:
+            if not f.endswith('.json'):
+                continue
+            ontologyFilename = f.split('.')[0]
+            if 'Types' in ontologyFilename:
+                categories.append(ontologyFilename.replace('Types', ''))
+        break
+    return categories
diff --git a/webapp_create_post.py b/webapp_create_post.py
index 8737d1e1a..8b9c1700a 100644
--- a/webapp_create_post.py
+++ b/webapp_create_post.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from utils import getMediaFormats
 from utils import getConfigParam
 from utils import acctDir
 from utils import getCurrencies
+from utils import getCategoryTypes
 from webapp_utils import getBannerFile
 from webapp_utils import htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle
 from webapp_utils import htmlFooter
@@ -363,7 +364,7 @@ def htmlNewPost(cssCache: {}, mediaInstance: bool, translate: {},
         extraFields += '<br>' + \
             editTextField(translate['Type of shared item. eg. hat'] + ':',
                           'itemType', '', '', True)
-        categoryTypes = ("food", "clothes", "tool", "medical")
+        categoryTypes = getCategoryTypes()
         catStr = translate['Category of shared item. eg. clothing']
         extraFields += '<label class="labels">' + catStr + '</label><br>\n'