A shelf-life statement should be supported by an appropriate assessment of the actual product and its intended conditions. It cannot be reliably inferred from a competitor's label or a single acceptable sample.
Define what will be assessed
Give the specialist the formulation version, manufacturing process, packaging specification and intended storage and distribution conditions. Identify changes still expected before launch. A study on one version may not establish suitability for a materially different version.
Explain the commercial objective, but avoid making the desired date an assumed conclusion. The purpose of the assessment is to establish what the evidence supports.
Agree on responsibilities
Ask who designs the study, prepares samples, performs the tests and interprets the results. Confirm the laboratory's relevant capabilities and the qualifications needed for the assessment.
The scope should state the evaluation approach, sampling plan, acceptance basis, reporting format and handling of unexpected results. These details need professional judgment specific to the product; this checklist is a commissioning aid, not a test protocol.
Plan for decisions after testing
Require an explanation of limitations and the conditions under which conclusions apply. Decide how formulation, process or packaging changes will trigger review. Keep the underlying reports with the approved product specification.
General hygiene principles are available through Codex. Local requirements and product-specific evidence still need to be checked by the responsible specialist.
Find food development and quality experts who can explain the study design and what a result would mean for a launch decision, rather than promise a shelf-life figure before reviewing the product.