Overview

Amazon has issued a reminder that sellers must assign the correct Product Expiration Type (PET) to every ASIN that carries a date label before sending stock to FBA fulfillment centers. Missing or inaccurate PET settings cause processing delays, inventory rejections, or even premature disposal, directly impacting revenue and fees. The guidance is critical for consumables, supplements, beauty, and grocery items where expiration information is mandatory.

Key Points

• PET must be set before shipment — Configuring the attribute in Seller Central prior to creating the first inbound plan prevents mismatches that are hard to fix later.
• Three PET scenarios exist — “Expiration Date,” “Manufacturing Date,” and the associated shelf‑life field cover all common label formats found on consumer goods.
• Incorrect PET triggers delays — When the system cannot locate the expected date on the package, the unit is placed in a quarantine queue, extending processing time by several days.
• Bulk upload is recommended for large catalogs — Using the “Add Products via Upload” flat‑file template lets sellers update PET and shelf‑life fields for hundreds of SKUs in a single step.
• Regulatory compliance is at stake — Accurate expiration data helps Amazon meet food‑safety and drug‑safety regulations, reducing the risk of fines or account suspensions.

How to Set Expiration Attributes in Seller Central

1. Locate the PET dropdown — In the “Inventory → Manage Inventory” view, click the edit icon for a target ASIN and find the “Product Expiration Type” field; choose either “Expiration Date” or “Manufacturing Date.” Example: A vitamin bottle labeled “Best By 08/2025” requires the “Expiration Date” option.
2. Enter shelf‑life when using Manufacturing Date — If the PET is set to “Manufacturing Date,” a second field appears for “Shelf Life (months).” Input the duration stated on the label, such as “18 months” for a skincare cream that only lists a production date. Example: The label reads “Made 03/2023 – 24 months,” so you enter “24” in the shelf‑life field.