diff --git a/spec/index.md b/spec/index.md
index 192b08de1..48ed7b9e7 100644
--- a/spec/index.md
+++ b/spec/index.md
@@ -780,6 +780,12 @@ Given a query (the `content` map from the request body) `Q`, a response `R`, and
 
 where `RootSubnetId` is the a priori known principal of the root subnet. Moreover, all timestamps in `R.signatures`, the certificate `Cert`, and its optional delegation must be "recent enough".
 
+:::note
+
+This specification leaves it up to the client to decide how recent timestamps in `R.signatures`, the certificate `Cert`, and its optional delegation the client enforces. A reasonable expiry time for timestamps in `R.signatures` and the certificate `Cert` is 5 minutes (analogously to the maximum allowed ingress expiry enforced by the IC mainnet). Delegations require expiry times of at least a week since the IC mainnet refreshes the delegations only after replica upgrades which typically happen once a week.
+
+:::
+
 ### Effective canister id {#http-effective-canister-id}
 
 The `<effective_canister_id>` in the URL paths of requests is the *effective* destination of the request.