What is a Best Before Date?

A “best before” date tells you how long a product will maintain its best quality, flavor, and A “best before” date shows how long a product will keep its best quality, flavor, and nutrition. It is not a safety deadline. Most foods are still safe after this date, but the quality may drop. For importers, this difference is important. Customs and regulators use these labels to check product quality and compliance, not just shelf life. It plays a similar role. It signals when a product is expected to perform as intended. After this date, effectiveness or safety can’t be guaranteed.

Common Date Label Types Explained

You’ll run into a few different date-related terms, especially when importing to different markets: dry goods, snacks, and some beverages.

• Use By: Indicates the last date recommended for safe use. Typically found on perishable foods like dairy or ready-to-eat meals.
• Sell By: Guidance for retailers, not consumers. Helps manage stock rotation, but it can confuse end users.
• Expiration Date: Often used for medicines, supplements, and some non-food products. After this, the product shouldn’t be used.
• Manufacture Date: Sometimes required alongside best-before dates, especially for supplements and cosmetics.

This can get complicated because each country uses different terms and has its own rules about which products need which label.


Why Accurate Date Labeling Matters for Imports

Date labeling is not only for consumers. It is a legal requirement in most countries, and customs will check for compliance. If labels are missing or incorrect, you could face:
​

• Delays at the border while products are relabeled or detained
• Fines or destruction of shipments
• Recalls, which are expensive and damaging to your brand

If importers get this right from the start, customs clearance is easier, relationships with regulators improve, and customers are more satisfied. The USDA and FDA say that clear labeling helps consumers, reduces food waste, and saves businesses money.

U.S. Federal Agencies and Their Import Labeling Roles

In the United States, several agencies have a say in how products are labeled:

• FDA (Food and Drug Administration): Governs food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and some over-the-counter drugs. The FDA establishes labeling standards and inspects imported products for compliance.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): Oversees meat, poultry, and egg products. USDA labeling rules can differ from the FDA’s, so importers must know which agency covers their goods.
• CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission): Regulates non-food consumer goods, including some products that require expiration or best-before dates (e.g., children’s products, chemicals).

Each agency has its own rules, but all require imported products to have clear, accurate, and easy-to-read date labels in English.

Customs Compliance and Inspection Procedures

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the gatekeeper. They enforce the rules set by the FDA, USDA, and CPSC. During import, CBP will:

• Check that all imported goods have the required date labels.
• Verify that labels are in the correct format and language.
• Detain shipments with missing or unclear labels.

If your shipment fails inspection, you may have to relabel goods at the port, pay fines, or even lose the shipment. The importer, not the overseas manufacturer, is legally responsible for correct labeling and compliance.


International Standards and Trade Agreement Impacts

Outside the U.S., rules vary even more. The European Union, Canada, Australia, and many Asian countries each have their own date labeling systems. Some standards have been aligned, especially for food, but differences still exist:

• EU: Requires “best before” or “use by” dates on most pre-packed foods, with strict label language and placement rules.
• Canada: Has bilingual (English and French) requirements and specific rules for certain foods and health products.
• Australia/New Zealand: Mandate “best before” and “use by” dates, with detailed guidance on format and placement.

Trade agreements can simplify requirements, but importers should always check the local rules for each market.


Special Considerations for Non-Food Product Imports

Do not forget about non-food goods. Cosmetics, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and some chemicals often need expiration or best-before labels. The rules can be stricter than those for food and may require additional paperwork. For example, imported cosmetics in the EU must display a “period after opening” symbol if the shelf life is less than 30 months.