Mike48,
My read on this is that it would apply to issues such as shelf life.
The sentence is states that the control plan assures quality.... "at each phase of the process including receiving, in-process, outgoing, and periodic requirements to asure that all process outputs will be in a state of control."
Any product, that deteriorates over time would need to be periodically tested, lot controlled, etc. to assure bad product does not ship to the customer.
JMHO
James