Looking for an example of a Shelf-life Policy

Hello,

I am trying to write a policy for our suppliers requiring them to ship our raw ingredients with a minimum shelf-life of 75-80%. I am starting from scratch and would like guidance on terminology and content and maybe an example. Can anyone assist me?

Hi Stevenson111,

We call it acceptance period in reference to production date. We are in warehouse setting and our clients demand their supplier to deliver their items with 1/3 of its shelf life.  You may set the remaining shelf that you prefer base on your projection of replenishment of stocks.

Here is the link below on Policy on Remaining Shelf life of Medical Products. You may want check on this and find some terminologies or content.

https://www.who.int/...oducts.pdf?ua=1

Hope this helps.

Hello,

I am trying to write a policy for our suppliers requiring them to ship our raw ingredients with a minimum shelf-life of 75-80%. I am starting from scratch and would like guidance on terminology and content and maybe an example. Can anyone assist me?

Have you involved your colleagues in purchasing? Commercial contracts is where I'd put this requirement, as it may relate to / affect stock rotation, production batch sizes/frequencies etc, and therefore potentially has a cost involved.

If a customer asks me to sign these types of statement (it happens regularly) then I'll advise them that they need to pick up with their account manager to agree an amendment to their contract(s) of supply, and that without such a contract we will continue to work to our own minimum life rules (varies by product).

A general 75-80% shelf life requirement is not a valid assessment of the product(s) you are receiving:  products with 1 year shelf life would need to be manufactured with in 3 months of shipping with 9 months left, at 2 year shelf life within 6 months of manufacturing with 18 months left and so on.  So one product is good for 9 months and the next one for 18 months.  Major food grade chemical manufactures (I have seen) may have a 5 year shelf life with receipt guarantee of 2 years remaining,  this is 40% shelf life.  The requirement should vary based on the self life/storage of the product.  Also can or will your supplier agree to this statement?  But at what cost?  Manufactured especially for you? Extended lead times?  You will probably need to adjust this policy for some or many of your ingredients/products.  

This is not really a one policy for all statement and you need to leave yourself room or else risk supply issues.