How to check medicine expiry date in Pakistan (and read the code on the box)
The expiry date is printed on the box next to "EXP", and on packs with a Mehfooz Dawa code it is also stored inside the square code. Scan the code and the date is read for you, with a warning if it has passed or falls within the next three months.
Where to find it on the pack
On cartons, look at the end flaps or a side panel, near the batch number. On blister strips it is usually embossed or printed along one edge, sometimes repeated so it survives when the strip is cut. On bottles and tubes it is on the label or crimp. The date on the strip should match the one on the box.
Reading the formats
| Printed | Means |
|---|---|
| EXP 09/2028 or EXP SEP 2028 | Usable until 30 September 2028 |
| EXP 23/09/2028 | Usable until 23 September 2028 (day/month/year) |
| Inside the code: 17 280923 | GS1 field 17 is expiry in YYMMDD, so 23 September 2028 |
| Inside the code: 17 280900 | Day "00" means the end of the month, 30 September 2028 |
| MFG 10/2025 | Manufactured October 2025. Not an expiry date |
Expiry assumes proper storage
The date is only valid if the medicine has been kept as the label says, usually below 25 or 30 °C, away from light and moisture. Pakistani summers can push temperatures in cars, shops and kitchens far above that. Insulin and some vaccines need a fridge. A pack that has been heat-damaged can fail before its expiry date.
"Once opened" dates
Eye drops, some syrups and reconstituted antibiotic suspensions have a shorter life after opening, often 7 to 28 days, regardless of the printed expiry. Write the opening date on the bottle.
How to check a medicine's expiry date online
There are three ways, depending on what is printed on your pack.
| Your pack has | Do this | You get |
|---|---|---|
| A square 2D code | Scan it | The expiry stored in the code and DRAP's record for the batch, with a warning if it has passed or is within three months |
| The code text but your camera will not read it | Choose Type code and enter the four details | The same result |
| Only a string of digits from a barcode app | Paste it into the decoder in our GTIN and batch guide | The date pulled out of field (17) |
| No code | Read the printed EXP date as shown in the table above | The date as printed |
No website can tell you a pack's expiry from the brand name alone, and none can work it out from a batch number for every company. Each batch has its own date, and each company has its own batch format. See checking medicine by batch number.
A worked example: reading the date inside the code
Suppose a scanner app shows this string from a pack:
(01)08964001282990(17)280923(10)001708(21)02670062528116513679
Find the part that follows (17): 280923. Read it two digits at a time as year, month, day: 28, 09, 23. The expiry is 23 September 2028. If the last pair were 00, as in 280900, the medicine would be usable to the end of that month. DRAP's guidelines require this YYMMDD format inside the code, while the date printed next to it for people may follow the usual month and year style.
Expiry dates by type of medicine
The printed date applies to an unopened pack stored correctly. Once opened or mixed, many medicines have a much shorter life. These are typical figures; your own leaflet is the authority.
| Form | Unopened | After opening or mixing |
|---|---|---|
| Tablets and capsules in blisters | Until the printed date | Same, as long as each stays sealed in its blister |
| Tablets in a bottle | Until the printed date | Keep the cap tight; follow the label |
| Dry powder antibiotic for children | Until the printed date | Usually 7 to 14 days once water is added, often in the fridge |
| Syrups | Until the printed date | Often limited after opening; check the label |
| Eye and ear drops | Until the printed date | Commonly about 28 days |
| Insulin | Until the printed date in the fridge | A limited period in use; see insulin storage |
| Creams and ointments | Until the printed date | Check the leaflet; discard if separated or discoloured |
Signs an expiry date has been tampered with
Changing the date is one of the oldest tricks for selling old stock. Look for:
- a date printed in a different ink, font or position from the batch number beside it;
- scratch marks, a smudge or a patch of correction where the date sits;
- a paper sticker placed over the printed date;
- a date on the carton that differs from the one embossed on the strip;
- a printed date that disagrees with the date returned by the scan. On packs with a square code this check is hard to cheat, because the encoded date has to match DRAP's record for the batch.
Selling a medicine after its expiry, or with an altered date, is prohibited. Keep the pack and report it.
Buying habits that avoid expiry problems
- Check before you payMake sure the expiry is comfortably beyond the end of your course, especially for long-term medicines bought in bulk.
- Be careful with discountsHeavily reduced stock is sometimes close to its date.
- Buy what you needA year's supply saves trips but risks waste.
- Use the oldest pack firstKeep newer packs at the back of the shelf.
- Review your medicine boxEvery few months, remove what has expired and dispose of it safely.
Dawa ki expiry date kaise check karein
Dabbay par "EXP" ke saath likhi tareekh dekhein. Agar sirf mahina aur saal likha ho, jaise 09/2028, to dawa us mahine ke aakhri din tak istemal ho sakti hai. Strip par bhi wohi tareekh honi chahiye. Naye packs par chakor code scan karne se expiry khud nazar aa jati hai. Expiry guzar chuki ho to dawa istemal na karein aur pharmacy ko wapas kar dein.
Questions people ask
Can I check medicine expiry date online?
Yes. Scan the square code on the box with our scanner: the expiry date is encoded inside it and is shown with the result, along with a note if it has passed or is close. You can also type the details from the pack.
Is it safe to take medicine one day after expiry?
Do not take expired medicine without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Some medicines lose strength, and a few, such as certain antibiotics, eye drops, insulin and liquid preparations, can become unsafe or ineffective. Return expired medicine to the pharmacy.
What does EXP 09/2028 mean?
When only a month and year are printed, the medicine can be used until the last day of that month, so EXP 09/2028 means up to 30 September 2028, provided it has been stored as the label says.
What is the difference between MFG and EXP?
MFG (or Mfd.) is the date the batch was manufactured. EXP is the date after which it should not be used. The gap between them is the shelf life, typically two to three years for tablets.
How do I check a medicine expiry date in Pakistan?
Read the date printed beside "EXP" on the carton and the strip, which should match. On packs with a square 2D code, scan the code: the expiry is stored inside it and is shown in the result.
Can I check medicine expiry by batch number?
Not reliably. Batch formats are different for every manufacturer, so the expiry cannot be worked out from the batch number in general. Use the printed expiry date or the date in the square code.
Is there a medicine expiry checker?
Our scanner works as one for packs with a square code: it reads the expiry from the code and flags dates that have passed or fall within three months.
What should I do with expired medicine?
Do not use it or give it to anyone. Return it to a pharmacy if they accept it, or follow our guide to disposing of expired medicine safely at home.
Can a pharmacy sell medicine that is close to expiry?
A medicine may be sold until its expiry date, but you should be told if the date is near, and it must last your whole course. Selling after the expiry date is prohibited.
How to check medicine expiry date by batch number?
There is no reliable medicine expiry check by batch number, because each manufacturer uses its own batch format. Read the printed EXP date or scan the square code.
What is an expired medicine check?
Checking that the expiry date has not passed before use. Our scanner flags expired packs and those expiring within three months.
