How to read ink cartridge dates? Are they expiry dates or manufactured dates?

[MidnightNarwhal]

How do I read the date code (I believe it's a date code?) and is that manufactured date or expiry date? 

Thanks

[Ramona]

Hi MidnightNarwhal,

Our ink cartridges do not have expiration dates; if you are having difficulty with the ink purchased for the printer, we ask that you please contact a Canon technical support representative here for further assistance. A representative will be happy to assist you free of charge.

[robertbaer]

  I do not believe there are no manufactured date codes.

  Look at the picture...what is "1716L24"?

  I just got a BC-20 cartridge, with a dot-matrix code "6DO2D11" printed on its box.

  Your statement that there are no codes are not believable in the face of apparent contradiction.

  Care to elucidate?

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[amhennin9]

The ink may not have an expiration date, but it must have a manufacture date. How do we read the manufacture date and convert it to a regular date on the calender.  For example, I have an unopened CL-244 ink cartridge. The upper left of its packaging reads 171C04D1C3.  How do I convert that to a manufacture date? I am just trying to get a sense of how old the ink might be.

[jrhoffman75]

If there is no expiration dates why is the manufacture date relevant?

[amhennin9]

Because I would like to know, that's why.  I want to know when it was made. Ink dries up when it sits around a long time.