Which practice specifically ensures the oldest stock is issued first?

• A. Improve forecasting
• B. Timely disposal of expired stock
• C. Use FEFO
• D. Align with supplier lead times

Answer: (C)

FEFO, which stands for First Expiry, First Out, is the practice that directly ensures the oldest expiry stock is issued first. The idea is simple: items with the earliest expiry dates are prioritized for dispensing, so nothing with a shorter remaining shelf life sits in the stockroom. This reduces waste from products that expire before they can be used and helps maintain safety and effectiveness of medicines.

To make FEFO work, you rotate stock so the items with the soonest expiry are always most accessible, label and track expiry dates clearly, and regularly check inventories for near-expiry items so they’re issued first. Systems and processes should flag approaching expiries to prompt prioritizing them in issuing.

Other approaches focus on planning or disposal rather than the order in which stock is used. Improving forecasting aims to prevent shortages or overstock, timely disposal handles waste after expiry, and aligning with supplier lead times is about when stock arrives rather than which stock is issued first.