> I have used a part bottle that had been opened for almost 12 months, and it was fine.
I'm sure it was but I am a little curious how you could tell :) or do you mean it was within date and correctly stored?
If incorrectly stored, for instance, you would not be able to tell visually if the active components had been destroyed. Some ingrediants may even degrade into something harmful.
As a by the by, it is also worth mentioning that if a bottle is out of date or you think it has not be correctly stored it should not be disposed off in domestic waste that may go to landfill. Either take it back to the retailer or contact your local council about disposal.