Labeling of consumer packaging batch no mfd exp. EXP on the packaging means the period of safe use of cosmetics

Question 7. Are there clear rules in GMP for assigning batch numbers and expiration dates?

Series number

Today, most domestic manufacturers use the standard combination ХХММYY to assign a series number. These are the serial number of the series (XX), month (MM) and year (YY) of production of the product. At one time in the USSR, and later in the CIS, in different methodological guidelines It was recommended to assign the series number this way:

“...2.3.9. The series number is indicated in Arabic numerals together; the word “series” is not included. The last four digits in the number indicate the month and year of release of the drug. The numbers preceding the last four are the production number of the series. The height of the numbers should be no more than 5 mm.

Example: 16140398, where: 0398 - March 1998 - date of manufacture, 1614 - production series number..."

A similar diagram is shown in the draft labeling requirements medicines for the Customs Union:

“... 2.2.10. The release date/production date is not indicated if in the batch number the last four digits (six digits) indicate the month and year of production of the medicinal product, and the digits preceding the last four (six) are the batch production number...”

At the same time, in other countries (outside former USSR) there are many more options for the structure of the series number. Each manufacturer is free to determine the code structure (subject to national regulatory requirements, if any). According to the logic of GMP, for this it is only necessary to develop an SOP “Rules for assigning a batch number and expiration date” (or an alternative internal document), which defines:

• series number code structure;
• responsibility for assigning a series number;
• serial number registration log form;
• procedure for canceling a series number, etc.

However, whatever the structure of the code, when developing such an SOP, questions will always arise that are quite simple, but have not yet been resolved by domestic regulatory authorities.

As defined in GMP, a batch number is a unique* combination of numbers and/or letters that uniquely identifies a batch.

And the question immediately arises: “Can the combination of numbers adopted at domestic enterprises be called unique?” Probably NOT! For example, if the method suggested by the above two documents is used, then the batch number "150213" can be assigned to different drugs, or even different dosages of the same drug. To this you can object that these are different medicines, and each of them has its own unique series code. I agree, but on the condition that such a combination of numbers is made unique only by the joint mention of the batch number, name and dosage of the medicinal product. And if at least once you indicate the batch number without its other attributes (name, dosage), this can easily lead to confusion of the primary data - in equipment operation logs, in QC records, in warehouse documentation, etc.

Of course, from the various codes used by Western pharmaceutical companies, it is difficult to identify a standard one. However, with all the variety of choices, one can notice similar solutions. Many companies include an internal (alphabetic or numeric) product code in the batch number. For example, CR150213, or 04150213, where CR or 04 is the internal drug code that takes into account the dosage. These series numbers are truly unique. Often, batch numbers of foreign medicinal products contain additional letters or numbers. This is explained by the fact that GMP requires assigning a batch number already when loading raw materials, while foreign manufacturers often split a batch of intermediate product into several batches of pharmaceutical drugs. For example, for separate batches of the same FPP obtained by dividing one batch of bulk product (in bulk), the numbers CR150213A, CR150213B, CR150213C, etc. are often used, where the letters A, B, C designate the FPP series intended for different countries(or for different final packaging times). Such long (over 8 characters) batch numbers are inconvenient for engineering specialists when setting up a packaging line and for other production personnel (including QC) when maintaining records. Therefore, simpler codes are often used in practice (without indicating the month and/or year of manufacture), for example CR15A, or 0415B, etc.

Natural questions arise here: “Do consumers need to understand the code structure used by manufacturers to assign a batch number?”, “Does the state need to strive to unify the code for the batch number in the pharmaceutical market?” Of course not! The unique series number is primarily needed by the manufacturer. GMP rules suggest that it is the uniqueness of the batch number that allows you to accurately track its entire history, starting from the raw materials, supplies, and equipment used, helps to quickly identify the causes of deviations (including from primary records), as well as track and remove defective products from circulation.

Therefore, the state should not strive to establish a unified (same for all manufacturers) code for series numbering. Such unification, with a high degree of probability, can lead to the loss of the uniqueness of the series number. It turns out that different drugs released in the same month, and also from different manufacturers, may have the same batch number. As a result, it becomes very difficult to track important primary data, introducing uncertainty and confusion into the supply chain for distributors and pharmacy chains.

Best before date

The requirement to include an expiration date on consumer packaging of a medicinal product is required by national laws, industry guidelines, and GMP/GDP good practices. Unlike the batch number, which is more necessary for the manufacturer, the presence of expiration date information on the packaging is necessary, first of all, for the consumer. And not so much because this is clearly stated in the legislation, but to prevent the consumption of a low-quality product.

By definition, “shelf life” is the period of time during which a product (intermediate product, finished medicinal product) is expected to retain its properties, subject to the storage conditions stated in the relevant specification. As a rule, the shelf life is determined by the period calculated from the date of its manufacture. Naturally, after the expiration date, the use of the product is unacceptable.

Accordingly, the state must ensure the unification of approaches specifically to applying the expiration date to consumer packaging of a medicinal product. In almost all industries around the world, expiration dates are indicated on consumer packaging as follows:

• “Best for (hours, days, months or years)”;
• "Best before (date)";
• "Use by (date)";
• “Best before (date).”

In turn, the expiration date is usually indicated as follows:

• hour, day and month - for perishable goods;
• day and month – if the expiration date does not exceed three months;
• month and year – if the expiration date is more than 3 months.

In most cases, medications have a shelf life of more than 12 months, so the generally accepted approach is to use the month/year format.

Everything seems simple, but there is a problem. Take, for example, the “Best before IV 2014” label. Everything is according to the law - the month and year of expiration are indicated. But a stupid question arises: which day of the month should be considered the expiration date - April 1, 2014 or April 30, 2014?

A serious immersion in global regulatory documents leads to two correct answers. One option is ours, the second is overseas. In our countries, it is generally accepted that “Best before IV 2014” means that the drug cannot be used after March 31, 2014, i.e. The drug is valid until the first day of April 2014. This approach has been adopted not only in the pharmaceutical industry, but also in other industries. For example, to confirm this, a quote from GOST R 51074 for food products: “...3.5.10. If the expiration date exceeds three months, the expiration date continues until the first day of the specified month...”

But there is another point of view. For example, in the European Union, the expiration date of medicines, just like ours, must be in the format MM/YYYY (month/year), but the expiration date is considered to be the last day of the specified month. This position of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is explained in document CPMP/QWP/072/96/EMEA/CVMP/453/01 **,***:

“The shelf life of an industrial series should be counted from the date of issue of permission for its sale (date of issue). Under normal circumstances, the period before the date of issue of such permission should not exceed 30 days from the date of manufacture.

If permission to sell a series is issued after the established 30 days from the date of manufacture, then the beginning of the shelf life should be considered the date of manufacture.

In this case, the date of manufacture is considered to be the date of the first production operation associated with mixing the active substance with other components. For medicinal products that consist of an active substance placed in a container, the date of manufacture is considered to be the starting date of the filling operation.”

To prevent misinterpretation of the text of this document, additional explanations and examples are provided on the EMA official website (see table).

Example of calculating the expiration date for a drug with a shelf life of 2 years

Date of the first operation to mix the components of the dosage form	Packing date	Release date	Expiration date	Interpretation “Suitable for use up to...”	Total time from start of production to end of shelf life	Expiration date for labeling
28.01.2005	29.01.2005	30.01.2005	01/2007		2 years 3 days	01/2007
03.01.2005	04.01.2005	05.01.2005	01/2007		2 years 28 days	12/2006
03.01.2005	19.07.2005 *	21.07.2005	01/2007		2 years 28 days	12/2006
03.01.2005	04.01.2005	01.02.2005	02/2007		2 years 56 days	01/2007
Note: * - bulk tablets ( in bulk ) before packaging were stored for 6 months under appropriate conditions. It is expected that the shelf life for the intermediate product is described in the dossier and stability data are also presented in the registration dossier.

At the same time, according to the EMA, this approach cannot be considered acceptable for drugs with a shelf life of up to 12 months. For such drugs, the expiration date must be calculated up to a specific day in the DD/MM/YYYY format and subsequently “rounded” forward and backward to the MM/YYYY format. For example, the expiration date of 01/14/2013 should be marked on the packaging as “12/2012”, and the date of 01/15/2013 as “01/2013”.

But if we return to the text, we can make another important clarification. If substandard product from the previous batch(es) is added to subsequent batches of the product, the shelf life of these (subsequent) batches will be calculated from the start date of production of the batch of which the substandard product is part. For example, if on 03/25/2013, during the operation of mixing the ingredients to obtain a tablet mass, a certain amount of crushed substandard tablets from the previous batch was added to it (the production start date of which is set as 02/12/2013), the shelf life of the new batch will have to be calculated from 02/12. 2013 (worst case).

Shelf life vs. Shelf life

It seems that the hardest part is over. However, the simple concept of “shelf life” becomes unclear when we mention “shelf life.” When you start thinking about the differences in these terms, another stupid question arises: how does expiration date differ from shelf life? The search for an answer to this question has already created confusion in the regulations of Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In Ukraine, the terms “shelf life” and “shelf life” are used as synonyms. In Kazakhstan it went a little further. For example, in the Rules for establishing the shelf life and re-control of drugs it is written: “...5. Stability tests and determination of shelf life and re-control are carried out on medicinal products. A warranty period is established for medical products and medical equipment...” At the same time, Section 2 of the same Rules establishes the following definitions of shelf life and shelf life:

“...expiration date is the date after which a medicinal product, medical device and medical equipment cannot be used; shelf life – the period of time during which a medicinal product, under proper storage conditions, meets the quality and safety requirements of the medicinal product...”

From a regulatory point of view, the correct interpretation of these terms is given in the previously mentioned GOST R 51074: “shelf life is the period during which the product, subject to established storage conditions, retains the properties specified in the regulatory documentation.” Expiration of the shelf life does not mean that the product is not suitable for its intended use. It turns out that after the expiration of the shelf life, the product may change its properties (honey will become sugary, bread will become stale), but the product can be eaten until the expiration date, if any. While “the shelf life is the period after which the product is considered unfit for its intended use.” Relatively speaking, such a product can harm the life and health of the consumer, so selling it is prohibited by law. This especially applies to meat, dairy products and confectionery. When the manufacturer indicates a shelf life on a product, he warns that during this period the product fully retains its taste, consistency, aroma and useful qualities. However, if the shelf life has expired, this does not mean that the food product is unfit for consumption. A good example is honey. After the storage period, honey may darken or become sugary, but it will still be safe and even healthy. But if the expiration date has expired, then it is better to abstain from such a delicacy. Another example is grape wine. Wine bottles often indicate “guaranteed shelf life: 3 years,” and next to it the inscription: “Shelf life unlimited.” Thus, the manufacturer warns the consumer that after 3 years the taste of the wine in this bottle may change, but the wine will never become poison, it will simply “sleep” and wait for its finest hour.

Medicines for humans are not grape wine or honey. The use of medicines is associated with a large share of risk, and here consumer confusion in a variety of terms is unacceptable. This cyborg from a computer game has three lives. A drug has only one “life”. Accordingly, the concept of “shelf life” is not applicable for a medicinal product, just as the concepts of “warranty period” and “service life”, acceptable for medical devices, are not applicable. For medicines, we should talk exclusively about the expiration date and expiration date.

Shelf life vs. Implementation period

Everyone knows that licensing conditions, good GDP and GPP practices prohibit the sale of expired medicines. And I have one more “simple” question: can the expiration date be equal to the sell-by date? In other words, when should a pharmacy withdraw a drug from sale - at the moment of its expiration date or slightly earlier?

According to the same GOST R 51074, the sales period is the period during which the product can be offered to the consumer for its intended use. Of course, you can brush it off and say that this refers to food products. However, think about whether this also applies to medications? After all, the sell-by date is set taking into account some reasonable period of storage and use of the product at home. That is, if the consumer packaging of a medicinal product is designed for a two-month course of treatment, can the drug be considered expired at the pharmacy (or even more so at the distributor) 2 months before the expiration date?

Naturally, there is no point in putting a sell-by date on consumer packaging; this will only further confuse the entire supply chain and the end consumer. But it’s still worth thinking about the deadline for selling drugs from pharmacies. For example, you can introduce a restriction of the following nature: “...The medicinal product can be sold to the end consumer with a residual life of at least 2-10%, depending on the expiration date and the number of doses in the consumer package...”. This will always allow you to leave some reasonable margin of time (from several days to 2-3 months) before the expiration date so that the consumer does not have to eat the entire package as soon as he brings it home.

And in conclusion, for the sake of fairness, I would like to return to the interpretation of the expiration date accepted in our country. Perhaps it was concern for the consumer’s health that became decisive in interpreting the expiration date as “until the first of the specified month.” After all, every time we talk about the “first number,” we are guaranteed to have one month in reserve. However, on the other hand, if, based on the results of stability studies, the shelf life is set with a reserve, as is customary in the pharmaceutical industry, then such a norm only reduces the competitiveness of domestic drugs.

So it turns out that life is made up of such little things that often don’t add up.

Conclusion

The GMP rules only contain definitions of the terms “batch number” (English batch number, lot number) and “expiration date” (English expiration date). The GMP rules do not have requirements for the structure of the batch number code, and there are no rules for calculating the shelf life. The rules for applying expiration dates to labels in world practice are regulated primarily by industry standards, but, as a rule, unified with other industries. It is important to understand the difference in the terms “shelf life” and “shelf life”: the shelf life is established during stability studies, and the expiration date is applied to the consumer packaging. But the coding of the batch number is the exercise of freedom of choice for each drug manufacturer, with the only condition that the batch numbering should not violate the principles of traceability and lead to confusion.

Sources:

MU 9467-015-05749470-98 “Graphic design of medicines. General requirements".

Draft Appendix to the Decision of the Eurasian Economic Commission on the requirements for labeling of medicines in the Customs Union, 2011.

GOST R 51074-2003 “Food products. Information for the consumer. General requirements"

CPMP/QWP/072/96 (EMEA/CVMP/453/01) Note for Guidance on Start of Shelf-Life of the Finished Dosage Form (Annex to Note for Guidance on Manufacture of the Finished Dosage Form), 2001.

Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine 42-3.1:2004 “Quality Guidelines. Medicines. Pharmaceutical development."

Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine 42-3.3:2004 “Quality Guidelines. Medicines. Stability Study"

Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine 42-3.4:2004 “Quality Guidelines. Medicines. Production of finished medicinal products."

Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 5, 2011 No. 1459 “On approval of the Rules for production and quality control, as well as stability testing and establishing the shelf life and re-control of medicines, medical devices and medical equipment.”

ICH Harmonized Guidelines Q1A Stability Studies of New Medicines

* Unique [lat. unicus] - one of a kind, different from others, exceptional, unique.

** Does not apply to biological products such as vaccines, serums, toxins and allergens; medicinal products obtained from donated blood and plasma, as well as biotechnological drugs.

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08/05/2019 Temperature compliance is a stumbling block for participants in the supply chain
The number of litigations related to the thermolability of drugs is increasing. Alexander Panov, head of the Healthcare practice at the Pepeliaev Group law firm, stated this during the round table “Validation of the drug transportation process,” organized by the Council of Supply Chain Professionals.

The event took place as part of the third meeting working group“Pharmaceutical Logistics” and brought together heads of logistics companies, as well as representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.

The head of the Vialek Group of Companies, Alexander Alexandrov, drew attention to the fact that deviations in temperature conditions do not always lead to a product not meeting the required level of quality. According to him, transportation without deviations does not happen, as evidenced, among other things, by foreign experience.

“It is impossible to ensure that the temperature regime does not go beyond the limits even for a minute,” he emphasized. “The other issue is that we should not allow long-term deviations, and from a legal point of view this still needs to be finalized, because now this issue is often equated.” Another common mistake is to measure the air temperature rather than the temperature of the product during transportation, he added.

Continuing the topic of inaccuracies in definitions, the expert noted that the manufacturer and the holder of the registration certificate are responsible for the quality of the product. And in this regard, there is no need to manipulate the concepts of “efficiency and safety”.

“Safety and effectiveness are confirmed at the preclinical and clinical trials, he reminded. - Logisticians ensure this through the application of good practices. But to say that during transportation it is necessary to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the drug is incorrect - carriers must ensure that transportation of the goods does not have any impact on the quality of the product.”

Read the details in “FV” No. 23 (978) dated July 23, 2019 in the publication “How lucky you are.”

During the shelf life, drugs must fully retain their therapeutic activity, harmlessness and meet all the requirements of the scientific and technical documentation, in accordance with which they were released and stored under the conditions provided for by this documentation.

Production markings

Production markings include: series, lot, production date.

Series(in English Batch) is a certain amount of product produced without changing conditions from a certain amount of raw materials without stopping production (as if from one “batch”).

Batch – a certain amount of drugs obtained as a result of one technological process

Party(in English Lot) is the quantity of products (possibly of different series) simultaneously put up for sale (or sent to the buyer).

Series numbers may take into account the production date.

Here are examples of series designations on packages:

Series No. 601104 (last four digits indicate month and year of production);

Series No. 015-0505

Series No. 034100 (series does not take into account the production date)

Series No. 9710239 (the first four digits indicate the year and month of production);

Series: 146732/141372.

The word "series" is not always present on domestic packaging.

Sometimes a five-, six-, or seven-digit number is simply stamped.

Foreign version of the series designation:

B. No. 020603 (takes into account the month and year of production);

Charge - Nr.: 1530703 (takes into account the month and year of production).

No. 0301192 or B 0615.

Sometimes, instead of a series, a control number is indicated on the packaging of imported products, for example: “Control N 023079” or “O.N. 1109/56”.

The lot or batch number is indicated on imported packages.

Examples: LOT#0471; LOT Z31001FS: LOT 674HD; LOT 0529121; LOT No.67.

To indicate expiration dates Various options can be used.

Best before date – this is the period of time during which the drug must fully meet all the requirements of the quality standard.

The shelf life is calculated from the date of production.

Therefore, labeling most often contains information about the production date (it can be included in the batch number) and (or) the expiration date.

Another option: the production date and the number of days, months or years during which the product is suitable for consumption are indicated.

For example: "The date of issue V is 2004. The shelf life is 5 years."

Expiration dates are often indicated by the words “Best before”, for example:

Expiration date: 10 08

Expiration date: 12/1/2007

Expiration date: 11 2004

Expiration date 04/07 or (simplified): until 04/11 or 03/2005.

The expiration date of imported medicines and dietary supplements is indicated using the word Expiry (English “expire”), and in German transcription - Verwendbar bis.

Examples of expiration date designations: EXP 7/06; EXPSEP 08; EXPIRY DATE: 02 12 06; Verwendbar bis: 02 03 06.

Sometimes the expiration date is indicated as follows: BEST BY 09/07 (better used before 9/07); USE BY 08/04 (use before 08/04).

The production date may be included in the batch number, or may be indicated separately. IN English transcription A shortened version of the word "Manufactured" is often used - "Mfd" - produced (sometimes "Mfg").

In German transcription, the date of manufacture is Herstelldatum.

Examples of production date designations:

Manufacturer date: 08/04

Shelf life is calculated in months and/or years and is determined by subtracting:

Expiration date = shelf life – release date.

The expiration date can be determined by the labeling:

After the words “best before...” the month is written in Roman numerals, and the last two digits of the year in Arabic.

Shelf life – calendar date on the individual packaging of the drug, until which its properties, subject to proper storage, must meet the requirements of the quality standard. After this date, the drug cannot be used.

All discussed above production indicators stamped on the packaging. Only the names of the indicators themselves are indicated typographically.

Product number according to the manufacturer's catalog(or the company that has received distribution rights) is most often affixed to the packaging of imported dietary supplements and is designated, for example: PRODUCT NO. 13667. This inscription is affixed to facilitate work with distributors’ products when the company’s product range is represented by a large number of varieties.

If the drug is produced by a company under license, then on the packaging it is given license holder information(company name, trademark) and the license number may be indicated.

For example:

Tavegil® tablets are produced by the pharmaceutical plant EGIS A.O., Budapest, Hungary under license from Sandoz A.O. (Basel). This information is printed on a label with trademarks of both companies;

The license number is indicated on the packaging of the licensed product: “Manufacturer No.: K T K/25A/272/94” or “Mfg. Lie. No. 6/766” or “Lie. No. 1528”; The manufacturer of the drug provides information on the packaging that it is a licensed user of the product - “Licensed Used”.

In case of joint production the packaging bears an inscription like: “Produced in collaboration with the company...”.

Consumer packaging of medicines and dietary supplements may contain manufacturer's address(distributing company). The address may include the names of regions, cities, states, mailboxes, telephone, fax, and email addresses.

On transport packaging imported medicines are designated contract number and import permit.

Sometimes the label indicates quality control stamp(technical control department), which provides certain guarantees of product quality by the manufacturer. The Quality Control Department stamp is often present on packaging containing chemical reagents.

An integral part of the labeling of medical devices is A mark is a sign certifying the quality of a product (QC, rejector number, personal mark, metal sample).

The mark informs that the product has been subjected to control, checked by quality control department workers, it certifies certain properties of the product, the materials from which it is made, and confirms that the product has been tested in accordance with established rules.

On packaging with pharmaceutical products there may be indicate the standard number or other document in accordance with which this product is manufactured.

Patient care items, dressings have on the packaging indication of grade.

There may also be typographical signs on the labels that are not related to the product (signs of the printing house that completed the order for printing labels; technological designations that are understandable to specialists producing packaging or markings).

Surely, many have seen the same product on store shelves with for different periods suitability. One product was produced a couple of days ago, while another will no longer be suitable for consumption in two days. Another example: you open a chocolate bar, and there’s a strange thing on it white coating, although the expiration date is okay. In this case, perhaps the problems lie in the shelf life. TAM.BY tried to sort out this confusion.

Best before date

Shelf life is the period after which the product (work result) is considered unsuitable for its intended use.

The expiration date can be indicated either as a specific date (Expired until: 05/01/2019) or as a time period (Expired within 12 months).

According to the law, the sale of goods with expired suitability is prohibited. We have already written about what to do if you find an expired product on the counter.

Shelf life

Shelf life is the period during which the product (work result), subject to established storage conditions, retains the properties and characteristics specified in the regulatory documents establishing the quality requirements for the product (work, service), and (or) in the contract.
(Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”)

Often buyers think that expiration date and shelf life are one and the same. But that's not true. Often both dates are indicated on the packaging. But after the expiration of the shelf life, the product may change some of its qualities, but will remain suitable for consumption.

The difference between shelf life and shelf life is easy to explain using the example of honey. On average, its shelf life does not exceed 12 months, as indicated on the packaging. But this does not mean that after a year this product cannot be eaten. He'll just change appearance. For example, it can be sugared. But it will not lose its beneficial properties.

But be careful about dairy and meat products and medications. If the shelf life has expired, it is better to refrain from consuming them.

Service life

Service life - a calendar period established in days, months, years, or operating time established in hours, operation cycles, kilometers or other similar indicators provided for by law or contract based on functional purpose goods (result of work), during which the manufacturer (performer) undertakes to provide the consumer with the opportunity to use the product (result of work) for its intended purpose and bear responsibility for shortcomings that arise through his fault.

In simple words: by setting the service life of a product, the manufacturer guarantees that during this time the product will be in good condition and will not cause harm to the life, health, or property of the buyer.

There are products that can be sold without a specified service life. In this case, the manufacturer is obliged to ensure the safety of the product for 10 years from the date of its sale.

Warranty period

Warranty period - a calendar period established in days, months, years, or operating time established in hours, operation cycles, kilometers or other similar indicators, provided for by law or contract, during which the product (work result, service) must meet the requirements for its quality, determined in the manner prescribed by law.
(Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”)

If we talk about the warranty period and service life, then here too consumers are often confused and I think that there is no difference between them. In fact, these concepts are different.

The service life is set by the manufacturer based on the functional purpose of the product. But the warranty period can be set by both the manufacturer and the seller. In this case, the purpose of the product does not matter.

Another difference is that the service life begins from the moment the product is manufactured, and the warranty period begins from the moment it is handed over to the client.

The specified service life obliges the manufacturer to bear obligations to the buyer. This applies, for example, to repair and maintenance, production and supply of spare parts to retail outlets and repair shops. He is also responsible for product defects caused by the manufacturer.

We discussed the nuances of returning goods under warranty in

Every woman or girl has a wide range of cosmetics in her arsenal: creams and lotions, lipsticks and shadows, varnishes and masks. And when buying another jar or bottle, she, of course, needs to find out how long all the mentioned products will be safe. This is the basic information that interests the buyer after studying the composition of the product. Usually you notice some inscriptions and numbers on the packaging of cosmetic products. What can they say?

What does EXP mean on cosmetic packaging?

If you carefully examine the box or label on the jar, you will find the inscription EXP. Let's look at what EXP means on cosmetics packaging?

Let's try to decipher this abbreviation. It represents the first three letters of English expirations date, so EXP on the packaging when translated from English means “expiration date”.

It is specified in the format exp.MM.YYYY or exp.HHMMYY, where:

• HH - number;
• MM - month;
• YY(YYYY) - year.

For example, record exp.08.2018 means that the cosmetics expiration date is until August 2019. Another example: exp.060617. This exp entry on the packaging means that the cosmetics can be used until June 6, 2017. Its use after this date is not recommended as it may be unsafe and may cause skin irritation or allergies.

Similar information is indicated for cosmetics whose shelf life does not exceed 30 months.

If the product has a longer shelf life, then the expiration date from the moment of opening is indicated on the packaging or jar. To do this, use the icon of a jar with an open lid and numbers. If M12 is indicated on a jar of cream, this indicates that from the moment the jar is opened, the cream can be used for twelve months.

Why is it important to know the expiration date?

Indication of the expiration date on the packaging of a cosmetic product is required by law. By applying this designation, the manufacturer assumes responsibility for quality and guarantees the preservation of the beneficial properties of the product until the expiration date.

Several factors influence shelf life:

• the presence of preservatives that prevent the development of microorganisms;
• the presence of active components that reduce the properties and quality of products;
• moisture that can provoke bacterial growth;
• packaging features (dispensers and pumps) that protect the contents of the container from exposure to oxygen and the ingress of microbes.

If the expiration date has already expired, the chemical composition of the cosmetic may change:

• the acidic environment of the product changes (pH indicator);
• are destroyed active substances and components of cosmetic products;
• Emulsion separation occurs.

EXP on the packaging indicates the period until which the cosmetic product can be safely used. If the expiration date has expired and the cosmetics look good and do not have any external changes, this does not guarantee that she has kept all her beneficial properties. Therefore, you should not use such cosmetics.

Where can I find expiration date information on the packaging?

EXP on the packaging indicates the expiration date of the cosmetics, so this information must be found. There are no specific requirements for printing expiration dates. Such an inscription can be located anywhere:

• at the bottom of the jar;
• on the lid;
• on a label that can be stuck anywhere;
• on the seam of the tube.

You should not buy a jar of cosmetics if there are several months left before the expiration date. By choosing products with a long shelf life, it will be possible to ensure a long-lasting effect of beneficial active substances and obtain a visible effect of the purchased cosmetics.

If the expiration date has expired

If the expiration date of cosmetics has expired, then it must be thrown away! Such cosmetics will no longer be able to provide beauty and care, but the likelihood of possible harm There is.

Due to the presence of moisture, oxidation by air, and exposure to sunlight, preservatives and active substances are destroyed, which provokes the intensive development of microbes.

It is necessary to stop using the cosmetic product in the following cases: external signs spoilage of cosmetics:

• separation of components is observed;
• the color of the product has changed;
• smell;
• consistency.

It would be great if customers pay close attention to the information on cosmetics labels and under no circumstances use expired cosmetic products.

“You and I have found out that using expired cosmetics is unsafe for our skin, which is why it is so important to be able to determine the expiration date of cosmetics. And it seemed like there was nothing complicated about it, but the expiration date of cosmetics is not always indicated in numbers (use before such and such a date) and often these are icons and codes. Today we will learn to decipher the meaning of which, and we will also consider the types of expiration date markings for cosmetics, what the expiration date depends on and how to monitor it (there are a lot of letters, so I wish you patience :) but the information will be useful).

What determines the shelf life of cosmetics?

• Preservatives and their quantity. Preservatives prevent bacteria from multiplying in our cosmetics and prevent the active components in the products from being destroyed. The more different preservatives are contained, the more different bacteria are killed.
• Active components and their quantity. Most often, the active ingredients in cosmetics are unpredictable, which can reduce the shelf life of cosmetics.
• Availability of water. Water in the composition can provoke the growth of bacteria. This is why dry products have a longer shelf life.
• Packaging form. Dispensers and pumps reduce exposure to oxygen to a minimum and protect against moisture and bacteria getting into the products. The correct form of packaging will help extend the shelf life of cosmetics.

How to determine the expiration date of cosmetics

All cosmetic products have two types of expiration dates:

• entire shelf life, in unopened packaging
• and expiration date after opening the package.

Expiration date of unopened product

For the expiration date of the product in closed It’s worth paying attention right away, just before purchasing. Otherwise, you may not notice how the new product you bought will become unusable earlier than you expected, due to the fact that its shelf life is coming to an end. Therefore, the first thing we always do is check the expiration date of cosmetics in closed packaging before purchasing.

And in order not to get confused in the store (and this is quite possible), because different representatives of cosmetics indicate the expiration date of cosmetics differently. Let's look at the most common ones:

• production date(production date or manufacture date) + shelf life(shelf life period).

Usually indicate month/year (09/15). On imported means - month/day/year (09/12/15), Sometimes year listed first (15/12/09) .

• expiration date(expiration date).

It is also indicated as a date or exp. + date. In accordance with the ECU (European Cosmetic Union) guidelines, the expiration date is indicated for cosmetics that have a shelf life of 30 months. and less, but if more than 30 months, then cosmetics manufacturers are no longer required to indicate the expiration date and the expiration date of such products can already be determined only by the batch code. And it is important to understand that if the shelf life of cosmetics is 30 months or more, this does not mean that you can use this product during this entire period. Here we turn our attention to the expiration date of the opened product.

• batch code(batch code).

The code (alphanumeric, not barcode) indicates information about the date of manufacture. Most often, it is printed at the bottom or bottom of the product, or is knocked out (pressed out) on the solder seam of the product; in general, there is no exact position, so you will have to look for it. Each manufacturer has its own batch code encryption, because this information is proprietary. It can encrypt not only the production date, but also the factory and shift that produced this product. Therefore, it will not be possible to independently determine the production date and expiration date of cosmetics using the code. But there are several resources to help us. You need to enter the brand of the product and its code, and eventually get the production date and expiration date of your product.

Examples of indicating the shelf life of a product in unopened form and by batch code

Resources for determining and checking the expiration date of cosmetics by batch code:

• table - http://expiry.narod.ru/
• website (one of the old ones) - http://cosmeticswizard.net/
• Ukrainian forum in Russian http://makeup.kharkov.ua/decoder.php
• websites in English — http://checkcosmetic.net/ and http://www.checkfresh.com/ (a photo of the code is also shown here, how it should look)
• http://www.labeltest.com/scodes.html - here you can check the authenticity of the product by barcode
• http://www.cosmetic-ingredients.net / - here you can check the ingredients of cosmetics

It turns out to be very convenient, because the dates indicated in the code and in the translation are not always the same on imported products with a pasted translation. It’s also not immediately possible to remember exactly when you bought this or that product, or even the manufacturing date and expiration date on the box that you threw away a long time ago, or were erased from the packaging (which should not happen with a quality product). But you shouldn’t completely trust the information from these resources, because there are no official databases with transcripts, and the developers of these resources collected all the information themselves, which we can use :)

Examples of shelf life of opened products

Expiration date of opened product

After opening the product, its storage conditions change (contact with oxygen and skin, exposure to light), which contribute to the growth of bacteria. This shortens the shelf life of the product after opening (PAO - period after opening), so it is indicated on the packaging separately in the form of an open jar with a number and the letter “M” (month) or “Y” (year), which indicate How long will it take for the product to become unusable after opening it? For example, 6M - 6 months, 1Y - 1 year, and so on. Most often, such a sign of the expiration date of an opened product is present on the packaging of creams, liquid products and natural cosmetics.

How to use expiration dates on cosmetics

We've become familiar with the types of expiration dates, now let's figure out how to use them.

If the expiration date of cosmetics is coming to an end, and you just opened it recently, then you need to be guided by the general expiration date. And when the sealed product expires, it is no longer suitable for use.

If the shelf life of unopened cosmetics does not expire soon, but you have already opened the product and are using it, then you need to focus on the expiration date of the opened product (open jar icon). And if you have crossed this expiration date for an open product, then you can no longer use this product, its time of use has expired and the product should be transported to the trash bin.

Standard expiration dates for cosmetics

It happens that it is impossible to immediately determine the expiration date of cosmetics (dates are not indicated), then you can use the approximate standard expiration dates of cosmetics.

Natural remedies— 6 months The shelf life of natural cosmetics is short because they contain few or no preservatives.

Skin care products— 12 — 24 months.

The rest is indicated in the table.

How to keep track of the expiration date of cosmetics

If you haven’t checked your cosmetic bag for expired cosmetics, now is the time :) Moreover, now you know how to check the expiration date of cosmetics using the code yourself. And so that you don’t have to carry out an audit constantly, you should get into the habit of putting the expiration date on it when you buy a new cosmetic product when closed, and when you open the product, the expiration date when opened. If you decide to use the product right away, then determine which expiration date will come first (as calculated in the pictures above - comparing the expiration dates of the product in closed and open form), and write it down on the packaging. An indelible marker or stamper will help you with this (if the packaging does not come into contact with water). With this habit, you will not have questions about the suitability of your product.

• for IOS:“Cosmetic bag” (there is a built-in purchase - 119 rubles. At the beginning you use it for free for some time, then you have to pay if you decide to use it further. It’s a one-time payment. 119 rubles - in my opinion, not expensive for a convenient application).
• for Android: “My Cosmetics”, “Check Your Cosmetics” and “Cosmetics Checker”.

In the “Cosmetic bag” and “My cosmetics” applications, it is possible not only to find out and check the expiration date of cosmetics by code, but also to create your own list of cosmetics, which will monitor the expiration dates of your products and the marker can be put aside :) What else What’s convenient is that you always have a list of care products with you, and if you decide to go to the store and buy some cosmetics, you will always know which products you have run out of or which ones are about to expire.

I hope the information was useful to you and there are no problems with overdue cosmetics you won't :) How often do you check the expiration dates of cosmetics?