Key Points:

• Certain categories must comply with specific expiration date labeling requirements
• Products shipped to customers must have enough remaining shelf life before expiration

This document outlines the requirements for expiration date labeling and shelf life management on TikTok Shop to help ensure customer safety and trust for products sold on the platform.. These products are also subject to our Product Quality Policy. Sellers must comply with both this document and the Product Quality Policy when listing and selling products on our platform.

Expiration Date Labeling and Shelf Life

Expiration date labeling refers to the requirement for products to display a clear and accurate date indicating when the product should no longer be used or consumed.
Any product with a shelf life is considered subject to expiration, even if an expiration date is not displayed on the product packaging. This determines when the product is expected to expire. Products subject to expiration must include appropriate expiration date labeling and be managed to ensure sufficient remaining shelf life at the time of delivery.
Refer to the following sections for more information on requirements for products.

Products that Require Expiration Date Labeling

The following products must include a clearly labeled expiration date. Additional requirements, detailed in the policies linked below, may apply by category.

• All Food, Beverage, and Dietary Supplement Products for Human or Animal Consumption
  • Shelf-Stable Food and Beverages
  • Fresh and Frozen Food Products
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Pet Supplies
• Beauty and Personal Care Products, including those with Drug Labeling
  • Beauty and Personal Care Products, including cosmetic and topical beauty products, must follow the expiration date labeling and shelf life requirements in this document when they have an expiration date, "best before" date, manufacturing date, or shelf life information
• Medical Devices
  • Medical Devices and Medical Supplies, such as medical masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) masks, blood glucose monitors, and glucose control solutions.
  • Sellers must submit an image of the product label that clearly shows the expiration date.

Remaining Shelf Life for Expiration-Dated Products

Sellers must ensure that products shipped to customers have a sufficient and reasonable remaining shelf life for use or consumption. This applies to individual products, bulk items, or bundles. Food and beverage products, or any items shipped with them, must be lot-controlled and have enough time for use when received by the customer.

• For Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) requirements, see FBT Product Packaging Policy.

Beauty and Personal Care Products

Sellers must ensure that Beauty and Personal Care products meet all of the following requirements:

• Products must not be sold or shipped after the expiration date or “best before” date.
• Products more than 3 years old must not be sold, regardless of the expiration date or “best before” date.
• Sellers must check the expiration date and remaining shelf life before offering the product for sale and before shipping it to the customer.
• Products must have a sufficient and reasonable remaining shelf life when received by the customer. Products should have at least 365 days of remaining shelf life upon delivery.
• If a product has less than 365 days of remaining shelf life, sellers must clearly disclose this before purchase and in the product listing.

Expiration Date Formatting

Expiration dates must be clearly visible and legible, using either:

• Month, date, and year or month and year (month can be written as numbers, full word, or abbreviation)
• Medical devices must use the YYYY-MM-DD format

Additional requirements:

• The date must not cover or overlap other label information, such as ingredients, drug facts, or manufacturer details
• For case packs, multi-packs, and display boxes, expiration dates must appear on both the outer packaging and each individual item inside

Misleading Product Dates

Sellers are prohibited from misrepresenting or manipulating the production, manufacturing, or expiration dates of their products in any form. The following actions are strictly prohibited:

• Product Dating Fraud: Intentionally selling old stock with outdated production/manufacturing dates
• Mislabeling: Altering or falsifying dates on product packaging, including applying stickers over the manufacturer's original printed date
• Deceptive Marketing: Advertising products in a manner that misleads customers about their freshness or shelf life
• Using lot numbers as substitutes for expiration dates

Shipment Shelf Life Reference

Sellers must ensure products have enough remaining shelf life for use upon delivery. The following can be used as a general reference:

• Snacks: 90 days
• Instant Food: 180 days
• Dry or Canned Pet Food and Treats: 180 days
• Shelf-Stable Milk & Dairy: 270 days
• Pantry Essentials: 270 days
• Beverages, Tea, and Beverage Powders: 270 days
• Dietary Supplements (Human/Animal): 365 days
• Personal Care Products with Drug Labeling: 365 days
• Beauty & Personal Care Topicals: 365 days
• Medical Devices: 730 days

Example of a lot code and expiration date:

Enforcement Actions and Appeals

We regularly review shops for compliance with our policies. If violations are identified, enforcement actions may be applied. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Deducting points the seller’s Account Health Rating (a metric that measures seller performance)
• Removing product listings
• Revoking access to offer products for sale
• Issuing refunds to customers

For more information on enforcement actions, refer to our Seller Enforcement Policy. To appeal an enforcement action, visit the Appeals section for guidance.