expiries

Expiries, in general terms, refer to the end of a product’s or document’s period of validity. The word is commonly used to describe the dates after which certain items may no longer be considered safe, effective, or legally enforceable. The concept appears in consumer goods, healthcare, finance, and law, among other areas, and its specifics vary by context and jurisdiction.

In consumer goods, expiries are most visible on packaging. Two related concepts often appear: use-by dates and best-before dates. A use-by date typically indicates safety guidance for perishable foods and medicines; consuming items past this date may pose health risks. A best-before date relates to quality rather than safety; items may still be safe to use after this date, but taste, texture, or potency could decline. Storage conditions can extend or shorten expiry periods, and improper storage is a common cause of premature expiry.

In pharmaceuticals, the expiry date marks the last day the manufacturer guarantees full potency and safety, assuming proper storage. After expiry, strength and reliability may diminish, and regulatory guidelines may require disposal. Lot numbers and lot-level tracking help manage expiries and ensure integrity across supply chains.

In finance, law, and digital services, expiries denote the ending of a contract, option, license, or subscription. An option contract expires on its specified date; licenses may need renewal, and subscription services terminate when the expiry date passes unless renewed.

Expiries are routinely managed through inventory control methods such as first-expire-first-out (FEFO) to minimize waste and risk. Etymologically, expiry derives from phrases indicating the end or breath out, with usage varying by region, where some prefer expiration or due date in different contexts.