What is FEFO?
FEFO stands for first expired, first out. It is a stock rotation rule used for products with a limited shelf life, such as food, food supplements, cosmetics and medical products. Whenever an order is picked, the warehouse takes the units with the earliest expiry or best-before date first, so stock doesn’t expire on the shelf.
FEFO depends on batch and date tracking: the warehouse system records the batch (lot) number and the date of every unit received, and directs pickers to the right one.
Core principle: Rotate by date, not by arrival. The stock that expires first should leave first.
FEFO vs FIFO vs LIFO
| Method | Picks first | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| FEFO | Earliest expiry date | Food, supplements, cosmetics, medical goods |
| FIFO (first in, first out) | Earliest received | Most non-perishable goods, fashion with seasons |
| LIFO (last in, first out) | Latest received | Rare in e-commerce; some bulk, non-perishable materials |
FIFO and FEFO give the same result when batches arrive in date order. They differ when a newer delivery has an earlier expiry date, which happens often when several suppliers or production runs are involved.
Dates on EU products
“Use by”
A safety date for highly perishable food. Products must not be sold after it.
“Best before”
A quality date for food and supplements, known in German as the MHD (Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum).
Watch out for: Retailers and marketplaces usually require a minimum remaining shelf life on delivery.
Durability for cosmetics
Cosmetics show either a “best used before” date or a period after opening, such as 12M.
What FEFO needs in a fulfilment centre
- Batch and date captured on receipt, ideally from the carton label or barcode, see dock-to-stock.
- A warehouse system that allocates by date and blocks expired or nearly expired stock.
- Minimum remaining shelf life rules per channel, for example longer for B2B retail orders than for consumers.
- Batch traceability per order, so you can see who received which batch in case of a recall.
- Expiry reports, so you can run promotions before stock expires.
Example: A supplement brand receives magnesium capsules in March with a best-before date of June 2028, and a second batch in April dated January 2028 from a different production run. Under FEFO, the April batch is picked first because it expires earlier, even though it arrived later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FIFO and FEFO?
FIFO picks the stock that arrived first; FEFO picks the stock that expires first. FEFO is used for products with expiry or best-before dates.
Which products need FEFO?
Food, food supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, pet food and any product with an expiry or best-before date.
Is batch tracking required for FEFO?
Yes. The warehouse must record batch and date for each unit to pick by expiry date and trace batches in a recall.
What is minimum remaining shelf life?
The shortest time before expiry that a product must have when shipped, often set by retailers or marketplaces.
