What is FEFO (First Expired, First Out)?

FEFO stands for First Expired, First Out: the stock that expires first leaves the warehouse first. Unlike FIFO (First In, First Out), what counts is not the date of receipt but the expiry date of each batch. That way, no stock sits on the shelf until it expires and has to be destroyed. For medicines, the EU Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines require FEFO, and you must document any exceptions. An inventory management system enforces FEFO by automatically allocating the batch with the nearest expiry date at picking.

Source: EU Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of medicinal products for human use (2013/C 343/01)