The central position in the middle of Europe has made Germany a transit country for traffic from the ports on the west coast of Europe to the eastern countries as well as from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean area. However, the major portion of Germany's domestic traffic also takes place on the highways. In order to accommodate this immense requirement, it is necessary to keep the highways safe and capable of carrying traffic even under winter weather conditions. The basic requirements for winter road maintenance are contained in the Technical Rule (Merkblatt) for Highway Maintenance and Services, Winter Maintenance Section, published by the Road and Transportation Research Association (Forschungsgesellschaft fuer Strassen- und Verkehrswesen). The regulations in these rules are described more precisely in the so-called Requirement Level for Winter Maintenance (Anforderungsniveau fuer den Winterdienst) which defines the intensity for performing winter maintenance depending on the significance of a road for traffic. One essential prerequisite for efficient winter maintenance is the use of effective de-icing agents. For this reason, the Technical Delivery Specifications for Gritting Agents for Winter Road Maintenance (Technische Lieferbedingungen fuer Streustoffe des Strassenwinterdienstes, TL Streu) in which the requirements for gritting agents are defined was worked out in Germany. Such requirements should be coordinated within the EU for reasons of competition equality. The suppliers of gritting agents should confirm observance of the requirements in a so-called product description. Tests are provided for checking the quality characteristics. The Technical Delivery Specifications are supplemented by recommendations for procurement of gritting agents containing additional explanations for the users.