What does FEFO mean?
FEFO means choosing the eligible batch with the earliest expiry date for issue first.
The exact field names and approval steps vary by warehouse. Use your site procedure when applying the idea.
A practical warehouse example
On 1 November, two food batches are available: A expires on 5 November and B on 18 November. If the customer requires at least seven days of remaining shelf life at delivery, batch A is not eligible. Pick the earliest eligible batch, which is B in this example.
Batch A needs a separate approved disposition. Do not ship, relabel or destroy it solely because a rotation rule selected another batch.
How to apply it
- Confirm the rule
Check the product’s expiry, customer shelf-life requirement, any quarantine status and local procedure.
- Compare eligible batches
Among batches that meet the rule, select the one with the earliest expiry date.
- Record the batch picked
Verify the physical label and capture the batch or lot in the movement record.
Common mistake
FEFO does not mean “always pick the earliest date”. Expired, quarantined or customer-ineligible stock must be excluded before ranking batches.
Check your understanding
Does FEFO require you to ship a batch expiring in four days when the customer requires seven days?
Show the answer
No. Apply the customer and product eligibility rules first; then choose the earliest expiry among eligible batches.
One check to perform at work
For one outbound order, compare the picked batch with the expiry and customer minimum shelf-life rule. Keep the evidence with the dispatch record.
Continue learning
Prepared by WarehouseOps · Published 2026-11-01 · Editorial and corrections policy · Suggest a correction. This is an educational example; apply the approved procedure and competent advice for your site.