A system for handling of articles such as baggage or carrier cargo. The system uses the principle of electromagnetic communication in which an interrogator containing a transmitter generates an electromagnetic signal which is transmitted via an interrogator antenna system to an electronic label containing a label receiving antenna. The electronic label is attached to the article as they are processed. The label antenna receives a proportion of the transmitted energy and through a rectifier generates a dc power supply for operation of a reply generation circuit connected either to the label receiving antenna or a separate label reply antenna with the result that an information bearing electromagnetic reply signal is radiated by the label.