We get it — you’re checking your stock, and suddenly a barcode seems to say your item expired last month. Panic sets in. But wait! Before you toss it, let’s decode what that label really means.
 

📦 The Barcode Isn’t Lying — But It Might Be Misunderstood

Most medical products today use GS1 barcodes, which pack a lot of critical information into a small space. These barcodes include:
 

• Product ID: identified by (01)

• Batch or lot number: identified by (10)

• Expiration date: identified by (17)
   

The expiry date is encoded using a six-digit format: (17)YYMMDD — where:
 

• YY = last two digits of the year

• MM = month

• DD = day

Example: If you see (17)251211, that means the product expires on 11 December 2025 - not 25 December 2011, and definitely not already expired!

🧠 Common Confusion: The “00” Day

In the past, some manufacturers used ‘00’ as a placeholder for the day — for example:

• (17)241200 = December 2024 (exact day unspecified)

But as of January 2025, GS1 rules require that a full date must be included. So you’ll now see:

• (17)250131 = 31 January 2025

This change helps avoid confusion and ensures better safety and traceability.

 

🔍 How Can You Check It Yourself?

If you’re unsure, you can:
 

• Use a GS1 barcode scanner app (like Orca Scan or similar)

• Look for the (17) prefix and decode the next six digits

• Or take a photo and send it our way— we’re happy to help!