mærkning

Mærkning, or marking, is the act of applying a sign, label, or symbol to an object to convey information, identify ownership, indicate origin, or show status. The term is used across industries and disciplines to describe both physical marks and informational labels.

In commerce and manufacturing, product mærkning provides essential information for consumers and regulators. Labels may include ingredients, allergens, country of origin, usage instructions, safety warnings, expiration dates, and batch or lot numbers. Labeling requirements vary by country and by product type, and aim to support safe use and traceability in supply chains.

Branding and intellectual property: The concept of mærkning also encompasses marks used to identify a product or company. In Danish, the formal term for a brand is varemærke (trademark), but the broader category of marks—logos, trade names, and symbols—functions as brand identifiers and can be protected by law.

Animal and agricultural marking: Many countries require or permit marks to identify ownership and manage animal health and movement. Common methods include ear tags, tattoos, microchips, or other identifiers, attached according to veterinary or agricultural regulations.

Data labeling: In information technology and machine learning, mærkning refers to assigning categories, tags, or annotations to data samples to train supervised algorithms. Data labeling covers images, text, audio, and sensor data and is a prerequisite for many AI systems.

Legal and ethical considerations: Accurate labeling supports consumer rights, safety, and transparency; misleading or false marks can lead to penalties, recalls, or liability. Privacy, anti-counterfeiting, and supply chain integrity are additional considerations shaping labeling practice.