21 CFR § 201.17 - Drugs; location of expiration date.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s201.17"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 201.17 - Drugs; location of expiration date."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "201.17"
section_name: "Drugs; location of expiration date."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "DRUGS: GENERAL"
part_number: "201"
part_name: "LABELING"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 343, 351, 352, 353, 355, 358, 360, 360b, 360ccc, 360ccc-1, 360ddd, 360ddd-1, 360ee, 360gg-360ss, 371, 374, 379e; 42 U.S.C. 216, 241, 262, 264."
regulatory_source: "40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "201"
---


# 201.17 Drugs; location of expiration date.

When an expiration date of a drug is required, e.g., expiration dating of drug products required by § 211.137 of this chapter, it shall appear on the immediate container and also the outer package, if any, unless it is easily legible through such outer package. However, when single-dose containers are packed in individual cartons, the expiration date may properly appear on the individual carton instead of the immediate product container.

[43 FR 45076, Sept. 29, 1978]