NACE 08.9 – Mining and Quarrying n.e.c. | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 08.9 covers all mining and quarrying activities not classified elsewhere. In particular, it includes the extraction of salt, graphite, asbestos (historical only), quartz, feldspar, mica, peat, bitumen, asphalt and other chemical and fertiliser minerals.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 08.9 cover?

NACE 08.9 (Mining and quarrying n.e.c.) is a heterogeneous group covering mining activities for a wide range of specialised minerals — with relevance for public procurement in areas such as road winter service, water treatment, energy generation and the chemical industry.

Group 08.9 within Section B (Mining and quarrying) and Division 08 (Other mining and quarrying) is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities relating to NACE 08.9 are municipal road services (de-icing salt), water utilities (filter minerals), state forestry enterprises (peat), state-owned chemical companies and research and educational institutions with mineral requirements.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 08.9

De-icing salt for municipal winter service is the best-known public-procurement area of NACE 08.9 — in addition, tenders arise for filter minerals, peat and specialist chemicals from mining extraction.

Typical types of contract

• De-icing salt supplies: Sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) for winter service on federal, state and municipal roads; the largest single category in NACE 08.9
• Potash and phosphate fertilisers: Procurement for state forestry enterprises, municipal green spaces, agricultural support measures
• Filter minerals: Quartz sand, filter gravel, anthracite for water and sewage plants
• Peat and substrates: Municipal nurseries, plant nurseries, urban-greening projects
• Graphite and specialist minerals: Lubricants for industrial plants, research requirements
• Natural bitumen and asphalt: Specialist coatings, sealing systems for engineering structures

Thresholds and procedure types

Mineral supplies are subject to classical procurement law. The EU threshold for supply contracts is EUR 215,000 for public contracting authorities (as of 2024/2025). De-icing salt supplies are frequently tendered by municipalities and road authorities as framework agreements, often in the open procedure or, below the threshold, in the restricted procedure with a call for competition.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 08.9

CPV codes enable targeted searches for de-icing salt, mineral and peat tenders on procurement platforms.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on municipal tender portals.

Who is NACE 08.9 relevant for in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

Municipalities and road authorities are by far the most important public contracting authorities for products from NACE 08.9, since virtually every municipality procures de-icing salt annually for winter service. In Germany, municipalities and state operators such as Hessen Mobil or LBM Rheinland-Pfalz tender de-icing-salt framework agreements. In Austria, ASFINAG and the state road administrations award large volumes of gritting material. Water utilities procure filter minerals for drinking-water treatment. State forestry enterprises (Bayerische Staatsforsten, Österreichische Bundesforste) procure fertiliser minerals for forest management.

Companies and bidders

Mineral suppliers wishing to participate in public tenders typically require:

• Quality evidence: Test certificates under EN standards (de-icing salt under EN 16811, aggregates under EN 12620)
• Technical capacity: Evidence of extraction potential, storage capacity, logistics infrastructure
• Supply reliability: Evidence of adequate stocks and transport capacity for winter-service operations
• Environmental evidence: Valid extraction permits, ISO 14001 environmental management system

NACE 08.9 in context: Section B and Division 08

NACE 08.9 complements construction-material extraction (NACE 08.1) within Division 08 with specialist mineral extraction for industry, municipalities and agriculture.

• NACE B – Mining and quarrying: Parent section
• NACE 08.1 – Quarrying of stone, sand and clay: Construction materials in the municipal sector
• NACE 07.2 – Mining of non-ferrous metal ores: Critical minerals and metals
• NACE 09.9 – Support activities for other mining and quarrying: Mining-technical services

Frequently Asked Questions about NACE 08.9 and Public Tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 08.9? Salt works, potash mines, peat cutters, graphite mines and operations for the extraction of other minerals not classified elsewhere. NACE assignment follows the economic focus.

How often are de-icing salt contracts tendered? Framework agreements with a term of 2–4 years are typically concluded and re-tendered before expiry. Many municipalities coordinate procurement via municipal purchasing groups to achieve volume benefits.

Are there environmental requirements in de-icing salt tenders? Yes — contracting authorities increasingly require evidence of sustainable extraction methods and set requirements for chloride content, grain size and moisture content. Biodegradable alternatives (potassium formate, sodium formate) are gaining in importance in sensitive areas (airports, nature reserves).

Is peat extraction subject to special environmental rules? Yes — peat extraction is subject to permits in many EU countries and to strict environmental requirements. The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to reduce peat extraction and use. Public contracting authorities are increasingly replacing peat substrates with wood fibres and compost.

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.