There are distinct official publications for primary/secondary legislation (Lovtidende) and for sub-legislative norms (Ministerialtidende), which are the legal gazettes, and Statstidende, which is the official gazette, see point 1.2 for details.
First edition
The first paper edition was published on 4 January 1871, whereas the new electronic edition (of the now paperless legal gazette) has been available since 1 January 2008.
First online edition
The legally binding online edition has existed since 1 January 2008. Previously, no electronic legal gazette had been published, but the texts have been available online since the mid-1980s via the legal information system Retsinformation (see point 3.2). Ministerialtidende has been online since 1998 via the same website (https://www.retsinformation.dk).As of 1 January 2013, Ministerialtidende is no longer operative although, year 2008 through 2012 are still available.
Paper edition
Lovtidende
A paper edition is no longer published.
Online edition
http://www.lovtidende.dk Available texts
PDF from 1 January 2008 Access and price
Free Legally binding
Ministerialtidende (Ministerial Journal): circulars, statements, and guidance on the internal operations of the ministries
Legal basis
Law on the publishing of a Legal Journal, see Legal announcement No 1098 of 10 August 2016.
(Lov om udgivelsen af en Lovtidende, jf. lovbekendtgørelse nr. 1098 af 10. august 2016.)
Legally binding
The electronic edition of the legal journal has been legally binding since 1 January 2008. Until 31 December 2007 the paper edition was legally binding.
Different indexes and search in title, number and year
Format description
PDF
Authenticity
The measures used to guarantee the integrity of the workflow and the authenticity of the (electronically) published text include a chain of trust, the digital and server signature, SLL protocol and other systems (see also point 1.5).
Archiving
The publishing organisation has taken care of archiving since 1 January 2008. The archiving of electronic legislation/electronic official texts in general is regulated by Law announcement No 1201 of 28 September 2016 on the archive law (Lovbekendtgørelse nr. 1201 af 28. september 2016 — Gældende bekendtgørelse af arkivloven (arkivloven)). This law concerns public archives, but not specifically electronic archives.
Civilstyrelsen
(The Department of Civil Affairs) For contact details, please refer to point 1.1
Form and nature
Public: the Department of Civil Affairs is part of the Ministry of Justice.
Basic tasks
Pre-press: no
Printing: no
Dissemination/distribution: no
Legal gazette online: yes
Legislation database: yes
Consolidation: no
Other services offered
Retsinformation informs the authorities of practical issues related to the publication of laws in the official journal, and serves as a helpdesk for the production system. Retsinformation helps citizens as far as possible with questions related to the publication of acts and the use of the databases, but gives no legal advice on the content of laws and regulations (which falls under the remit of the relevant ministry).
Since 24 September 2007, a system named Lex Dania has been used for drafting legislation (for both primary and secondary legislation). In 2015, an editor for Lex Dania called Eunomia was introduced in which all drafting is done. Lex Dania carries out validation, transformation and styling. Output: XML, PDF and HTML.
Workflow
A single electronic workflow system is in place for drafting, adopting and publishing legislation.
Publishing
Electronic edition (legally binding since 1 January 2008).
The text can be made available online within 10 minutes after reception by the publishing organisation.
The relevant ministry was responsible for proofreading and editing.
The paper edition existed until 31 December 2007.
The paper and electronic editions were derived from the same file and published at the same time (until December 2007).
The minimum period between the reception of the draft by the publishing organisation and availability of the text is about one day.
There is no systematic consolidation of legislation. However, the legal gazette publishes primary legislation in its original form (i.e. amending acts separately) as well as in an official ‘restatement’ (published in the form of a Lovbekendtgørelse) under the responsibility of the competent ministries. Each ministry is therefore responsible for the consolidation of its own acts.
Primary and secondary legislation, established by ministries and other state bodies, acts of parliament, bills of parliament and other parliamentary documents.
