Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking the authenticity of the specifications of origin of products and the specifications of time-based guarantees of product properties. The method is used to combat product piracy and to provide the prerequisites for automated identification of products, the shelf-life of which is just before the predefined expiry thereof or the expiry of the time based functional guarantee thereof. The field of application extends in this case to checking food, pharmaceutical products through to technical products.