Registering a component written in Visual Basic as belonging to a component category

I have written an application in C++, using ATL, that allows ActiveX components to be "snapped" into it. The application identifies components on a system that can be snapped in by using the Component Category Manager to enumerate through the components that are registered as belonging to the component category that my application defines. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for third parties to write ActiveX components that will snap into my application. I would therefore like to have the option for the components to be written in Visual Basic.

Registering component category membership is easy when you have control of the component registration process (eg when written in C++, especially when using ATL). However, I am unable to find a way of specifying that a component written in Visual Basic belongs to a particular custom component category. I find this a little surprising as Visual Basic itself makes heavy usage of component categories and automatically registers components as belonging to standard categories (eg OLE Automation).

I realise that one solution is to produce a separate application (possibly to be used instead of Regsvr32.exe) that does the additional registration separately from the component's self-registration, but I am hoping there is a more orthodox method.

Can anyone help?