Form set by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex VII.
Best before (hourglass)
An hourglass drawn in outline, with its lower half filled. · also called “Best before”, “Best used before the end of”, “Date of minimum durability”, “Hourglass”
What it means on cosmetics marks
Best used before this date
Precedes the date until which the cosmetic product, stored properly, keeps working as intended and stays safe (or tells you where that date is printed). It can be used instead of the words "best used before the end of". The date is given as month and year, or day, month and year. Products that keep for more than 30 months need not show it and carry the open-jar period-after-opening symbol instead.
Source · Official website Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products · checked
Where it appears
- All brands—Cosmetics marksThis meaning
- ISO 15223-1——Different ›
Questions about the Best before (hourglass) symbol
- What does the Best before (hourglass) symbol mean on cosmetics marks?
- Precedes the date until which the cosmetic product, stored properly, keeps working as intended and stays safe (or tells you where that date is printed). It can be used instead of the words "best used before the end of". The date is given as month and year, or day, month and year. Products that keep for more than 30 months need not show it and carry the open-jar period-after-opening symbol instead.
- What does the Best before (hourglass) symbol mean on ISO 15223-1?
- On medical device and IVD labels the hourglass is followed by the date after which the device must not be used, often written as year-month-day or year-month (for example 2027-06-30 or 2027-06). The same date may also be called the expiry or expiration date.
- Does the Best before (hourglass) symbol mean the same on every appliance?
- No. On cosmetics marks it means: Best used before this date. On ISO 15223-1 it means: Use-by (expiry) date of a medical device.
- What does the Best before (hourglass) symbol look like?
- An hourglass drawn in outline, with its lower half filled. It is also called “Best before”, “Best used before the end of”, “Date of minimum durability” and “Hourglass”.
- Which standard defines the Best before (hourglass) symbol?
- It is listed as ISO 15223-1-5.1.4 and ISO 7000-2607.
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