AI-generated from the captured TikTok policy text. Verify against the TikTok source before acting.
Certain products on TikTok Shop must show a clear expiration date and be managed so customers receive them with enough shelf life left. Sellers also have to follow the Product Quality Policy and may face enforcement if they misstate dates or ship products too close to expiration.
Key points
Some categories must display a clearly labeled expiration date.
Products with any shelf life are treated as subject to expiration, even if no date is printed.
Sellers must check remaining shelf life before listing and before shipping.
Beauty and personal care items have special rules, including a 365-day remaining shelf life target on delivery.
Medical devices must use YYYY-MM-DD date format.
Date labels must be clear, legible, and not cover other label information.
Case packs, multi-packs, and display boxes need dates on outer packaging and each item inside.
Misstating, altering, or disguising product dates is prohibited.
TikTok may remove listings, revoke selling access, issue refunds, or deduct Account Health Rating points for violations.
Say / show
Check whether the product category requires expiration date labeling.
Make sure shipped items have sufficient remaining shelf life at delivery.
Disclose if a beauty or personal care product has less than 365 days of remaining shelf life before purchase.
Use the correct date format for the product type.
Verify the TikTok source before listing, shipping, or making claims.
Follow both this document and the Product Quality Policy.
Do not say / show
Do not say lot numbers can replace expiration dates.
Do not sell or ship beauty and personal care products after the expiration or best-before date.
Do not alter or falsify production, manufacturing, or expiration dates.
Do not place stickers over the manufacturer’s original printed date.
Do not hide date information by overlapping other label details.
Violation risks
Account Health Rating points may be deducted.
Product listings may be removed.
Access to offer products for sale may be revoked.
Customers may receive refunds.
Shop compliance reviews can lead to enforcement actions.
Who it affects
Sellers listing or shipping expiration-dated products.
Creators or operators handling product listings for food, beverages, dietary supplements, pet supplies, beauty and personal care, and medical devices.
Shops selling bulk items, bundles, or case packs with dated products.
Source notes
This summary is based only on the provided TikTok source text; verify the current TikTok source before acting.
The source says some categories may have additional requirements in linked policies, but those details are not included here.
The source provides general shipment shelf-life references, which are described as a general reference rather than a guarantee for every product.
Confidence: high · Model: gpt-5.4-mini · Prompt: creator-policy-summary-v1
Readable Policy Copy
Captured policy content rendered without TikTok navigation, scripts, tracking markup, or page chrome. Source: raw-html.
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
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.
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 theAppealssection for guidance.