System and method for identifying and authenticating accessories, auxiliary agents and/or fuels for technical apparatus

In the case of a system for identifying and authenticating accessories, auxiliary substances and/or operating substances for items of equipment, the accessories or the auxiliary or operating substances or their storage containers are provided with a data carrier portion on which information that can be detected by the human eye and is distinctive to a human viewer is stored. The item of equipment is in this case provided with a reading and evaluating device for this information. The reading and evaluating device has a comparison device for comparing the read information with a stored item of information as well as an enabling controller for at least one functional component of the item of equipment. If the read information coincides with the stored information an authenticating signal or enabling signal is supplied by the enabling controller to the functional component, which thereupon permits operation of the item of equipment and if the read information does not coincide with the stored information disables operation of the item of equipment and emits a warning signal.