Certain products sent to Amazon FBA require expiration date labeling to ensure inventory is tracked and sold safely.
Missing or incorrect expiration labels can result in:
Shipment rejection
Inventory disposal
Unfulfillable inventory
Additional prep fees
📦 Which Products Need Expiration Dates?
Common categories include:
Grocery items
Supplements
Beauty products
Topicals and skincare
Pet products
Consumables
👉 Any product with a shelf life or expiration period may require labeling.
🏷️ Expiration Date Requirements
Amazon requires:
Clearly printed expiration dates
Easy-to-read format
Dates visible on the outside of prep packaging if covered
📅 Accepted Date Formats
Amazon commonly accepts:
MM-DD-YYYY
MM-YYYY
👉 Dates must be readable and unambiguous.
📍 Where to Place Expiration Labels
If the original expiration date becomes hidden:
Apply a label externally on the packaging or polybag
👉 Amazon workers must be able to see the expiration date easily.
⚠️ Important Rules
❌ No handwritten expiration dates
Dates must be:
Printed clearly
Legible
❌ Expired inventory is prohibited
Products must have sufficient shelf life remaining before shipment.
❌ Covered expiration dates are not allowed
If prep materials hide the date:
Apply an external expiration label
🚫 Common Expiration Label Mistakes
Missing labels
Incorrect date formats
Expiration hidden by polybags or bubble wrap
Sending products too close to expiration
💡 Best Practice
Before shipping:
Verify all expiration dates
Ensure labels are visible after prep
Double-check date formatting
🔄 How It Works in AccelerList
During shipment creation in AccelerList:
Expiration requirements come directly from Amazon’s FBA system
Some ASINs may trigger expiration-related prep instructions
✅ Summary
Amazon expiration date labeling is required for many consumable and shelf-life products. Proper labeling helps avoid shipment rejections, prep issues, and inventory problems.