Enhancing Product Safety & Reducing Inventory Loss Through Expiry Monitoring Checklists
Monitoring product expiry dates is a critical retail operation to ensure customer safety, maintain regulatory compliance, and minimise inventory losses. A structured expiry date monitoring process helps store teams identify near-expiry products early and take corrective action before products expire.The Expiry Date Monitoring Checklist serves as a practical guide for consistent expiry checks across shelves, backrooms, and systems.
Expiry Check Checklist
Expiry Check Impact
- Are expiry dates checked for all applicable products on shelves?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are near-expiry products identified in advance?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expired products immediately removed from shelves?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are high-risk and fast-moving categories checked daily?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expiry checks completed as per store SOP frequency?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________
Shelf Compliance Impact
- Are products arranged using FIFO (First-In-First-Out)?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are near-expiry products prioritised for sale or clearance?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expired products fully removed from customer-visible areas?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expiry dates clearly visible and readable on shelf products?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are promotional displays checked for expiry compliance?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________
Back Store Impact
- Is backroom stock checked regularly for expiry dates?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are near-expiry products segregated in the backroom?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expired products stored separately for return or disposal?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Is stock organised by expiry date to support FIFO practices?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Is expired or damaged stock clearly labelled in storage?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________
System & Documentation Impact
- Are expired products updated in the inventory system promptly?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are near-expiry items tracked for discount, return, or disposal?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expiry-related stock adjustments recorded accurately?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are expiry monitoring records maintained consistently?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are recurring expiry issues reported to store management?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________
Compliance & Action Impact
- Are expired products disposed of as per company policy?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are supplier returns initiated for short-expiry or expired stock?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are staff trained on expiry monitoring procedures?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Are corrective actions taken for repeated expiry violations?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________ - Is expiry compliance reviewed during audits or inspections?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If No, Reason: ____________________________________________________________
