Before listing expiration-dated inventory, ensure that you adhere to the policies and requirements below. Failure to comply may result in removal of your listings or deactivation of your Amazon selling account.
Amazon considers any product with a shelf life, or that loses effectiveness with time, to be subject to expiration, even if an expiration date is not indicated on the product packaging.
Products subject to expiration include but are not limited to:
All expiration-dated products intended for regular application or consumption must be received by the customer with sufficient time for use. For example, a bottle of supplements with 240 daily servings must be received by the customer more than 240 days before expiration. This requirement extends to all individual products sold in bulk, or as part of a bundle. In addition, food and beverage products—as well as products that ship with food or beverages—must be lot-controlled and received by the customer with sufficient time for use.
The table below lists products that Amazon considers subject to expiration, along with their respective shelf-life guidelines.
Product | Shelf life |
---|---|
Chips and other snacks | 90–180 days |
Dried fruit | 180–270 days |
Baby formula | 180–365 days |
Cereal and granola bars | 180–365 days |
Pet food and treats | 180–540 days |
Beverages such as coffee, tea, soda, and juice | 270–540 days |
Salad dressings and oils | 270 days |
Flour, spices, and baking supplies | 270–365 days |
Peanut butter, jams, and preserves | 365 days |
Pasta | 365 days |
Condiments, including salt, pepper, and sugar | 365–730 days |
Candy | 540 days |
Canned food | 540 days |
Herbal or mineral supplements | 730 days |
Cleaning supplies | 900–1,825 days |
Personal care and beauty products (shampoos, soaps, lotions, makeup, fragrances) | 900–1,825 days |
Expiration-dated products must follow these labeling requirements.
Expiration-dated products must be fully enclosed and sealed in packaging suitable for shipping. Expiration-dated products that require additional prep, such as poly-bagging or bubble wrap, must have labels with expiration dates applied to the outside of the product prep or packaging.