The ‘Normenausschuß Radiologie’ (German Standards Committee on Radiology, NAR) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) have recommended the introduction of new quantities in the field of radiation protection measurements for external exposure in Germany as of January 1995. The present report serves as a support for this recommendation. It describes the present, radiation type related system of quantities and the new quantities as proposed by the ‘International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements’ (ICRU) which are the same for all types of radiation. The implications of the introduction of new quantities in individual and area monitoring are described. In particular, changes of calibration procedures are considered, and numerical values needed for these procedures are given. Two chapters deal with special problems connected with instrument testing and verification and with provisional arrangements.