GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026
Expiry Date Management in the Cold Chain
A shipment of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals or food must reach the consignee before its shelf life expires – managing that requirement across the cold chain is the core task of expiry date management.
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Source: https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/december-2017january-2018/managing-expiration-dates-in-the-cold-chain/
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
A shipment of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals or food must reach the consignee before its shelf life expires – managing that requirement across the cold chain is the core task of expiry date management. It integrates batch traceability, FIFO inventory rotation (first in, first out), and real-time temperature monitoring into a single control loop. IoT sensors provide continuous temperature records throughout the transport route, while automated alerts trigger when remaining shelf life becomes critical or a temperature excursion is detected. In regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals and food, full documentation of these processes is a legal obligation subject to inspection. The concept goes further than general cold chain management, which focuses on temperature control: expiry date management adds the time dimension to the planning and execution of goods flows.
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