general drugs are prohibited from being sold within three months from the expiration date, even if they are more than three months from the expiration date. But it is not forbidden to sell, when the supply is sufficient.

when consumers know that general drugs will not go to the counter within 3 months from the expiration date, and there is a shortage of drugs, for drugs whose treatment course is within the expiration date, even if it is 1 month from the expiration date.

the expiry date of a drug is usually indicated by its expiry date or expiry date. Among them, the expiration date means that the quality of the drug can meet the prescribed time limit under the prescribed storage conditions. Expiration period refers to the time from the date of production to the expiration of the prescribed period.

The specific critical period of the products in the temporary period is as follows:

1. If the shelf life is marked as one year or longer, the critical period is 45 days before the expiration (such as canned food, candy, biscuits, etc.).

2. If the shelf life is marked as 6 months-less than 1 year, the critical period is 2 days before expiration (such as instant noodles, milk juice in aseptic packaging, etc.).

3. If the shelf life is marked as 9 days to less than half a year, the critical period is 15 days before the expiration (for example, some vacuum-packed and refrigerated cooked foods, instant rice and the like).

4. If the shelf life is marked as 3 days to less than 9 days, the critical period is 1 days before the expiration (such as some sterilized meat products and fresh eggs).

5. If the shelf life is marked as 16 days to less than 3 days, the critical period is 5 days before expiration (such as yogurt and some snacks).

6. If the shelf life is less than 15 days, the critical period is 1-4 days before expiration (such as milk, live bacteria milk beverage, main food, unsterilized cooked food, unsterilized boxed bean products, etc.).

Legal basis:

Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 83 A drug marketing license holder shall regularly conduct post-marketing evaluation on the safety, effectiveness and quality controllability of listed drugs. When necessary, the drug supervision and administration department of the State Council may order the drug marketing license holders to carry out post-marketing evaluation or directly organize post-marketing evaluation.

after evaluation, the drug registration certificate should be cancelled for drugs with uncertain curative effect, large adverse reactions or other reasons that endanger human health.

drugs whose drug registration certificate has been cancelled shall not be produced, imported, sold or used.

drugs whose drug registration certificate has been cancelled or whose validity period has expired shall be destroyed under the supervision of the pharmaceutical supervisory and administrative department or other harmless treatment measures shall be taken according to law.