Clarification on Product Label Dates

Hello,

Let's clarify the meaning of the dates on your product label:

• "หมดอายุประกันคุณภาพ / ....." (Quality Guarantee Expiry): Your understanding is correct. This is the date until which the manufacturer guarantees the quality and stability of the product when stored unopened under recommended conditions. After this date, the quality may start to decline.

• "กรุณาใช้ให้หมดภายใน 180 วันหลังเปิดใช้ / ....." (Please use within 180 days after opening): Your understanding is also correct. This is the Period After Opening (PAO). Once the product is opened, it should ideally be used within this timeframe (180 days in your case), as exposure to air, moisture, or contaminants can cause it to degrade faster, regardless of the Quality Guarantee Expiry date.

• "อายุบรรจุภัณฑ์ กรุณาใช้ให้หมดภายในวันที่ / ....." (Packaging Shelf Life Please use by date): This term is less common and can be confusing. If this date is earlier than the "Quality Guarantee Expiry" date, it most likely refers to the integrity or shelf life of the packaging itself. It suggests that the packaging is only guaranteed to protect the product effectively until this date. After this date, the packaging might degrade (e.g., lose its seal, become brittle), which could then compromise the quality of the product inside, even if the substance itself might theoretically last longer in different packaging.

Which date should you prioritize?

You should always use the product before whichever date comes first.

• If the product is unopened, use it before the earlier of the "Quality Guarantee Expiry" date and the "Packaging Shelf Life" date.
• If the product has been opened, calculate 180 days from the opening date. Then, compare this date to the earlier of the "Quality Guarantee Expiry" date and the "Packaging Shelf Life" date. You must use the product before the earliest of these three dates.

In summary, if the "Packaging Shelf Life" date is the earliest date listed, it is the most conservative and safest date to follow, as it implies the packaging's ability to protect the product is limited to that timeframe.

Hope this clarifies the labels for you!