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A clothing business's extra rules come from the Consumer Act. DTI requires price tags on consumer products sold at retail, in a store and online. If you make clothes under your own brand, the label must show the brand, business name, Philippine address and country of manufacture if imported. If you resell items whose maker cannot be identified, you as seller are liable for defects.[1,2,3]
Clothing business prep list
- Decide if you will make your own brand, resell, or both
- Design labels with brand, business name, address and make
- Keep supplier invoices for every batch you resell
- Tag every piece on the rack with its price
- Show prices in each online listing and live selling post
- Prepare your ID or DTI certificate for platform sign-up
If you sew or print your own brand
Consumer Act Art. 77 says all consumer products sold in the Philippines, local or imported, must show on the label:[3]
Order woven labels or hangtags with these details before your first production run. Adding them later means unpicking stitches or reprinting tags.
- Brand name and registered trademark
- Business name
- Philippine address of the manufacturer, importer or repacker
- General make
- Country of manufacture, if imported
If you resell from suppliers
Under Consumer Act Art. 98, the seller is liable for defective products when the manufacturer, producer or importer cannot be identified.[3]
Buy from suppliers whose items carry a maker's label, and keep their invoices. If you sell secondhand clothes, our ukay-ukay kit covers the extra rules on sourcing.
Price tags in the store, on live selling and online
Consumer Act Art. 81 requires price tags, labels or markings on goods sold at retail, with fines DTI cites of ₱200 to ₱5,000 and/or 1 to 6 months in prison.[1]
DTI says the price tag rules also apply to online stores, and a price list should be placed nearest the products displayed.[2]
Under the Internet Transactions Act, e-marketplaces must ask merchants for a name and valid government ID, or business registration documents, before listing.[4]
For BIR rules on online sales, see our online sellers guide.
Questions people ask
- Do I need a special permit to sell clothes?
- We found no clothing-specific licence. You register like any shop through DTI, barangay, mayor's permit and BIR, then follow the Consumer Act rules on this page.
- Do I need price tags when I sell on Facebook Live?
- DTI says the Consumer Act's price tag provisions also apply to online stores. State the price for each item you show.
- Can I be blamed if a supplier's shirt is defective?
- Yes, if the maker or importer cannot be identified. Consumer Act Art. 98 then puts the liability on the seller.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- DTI warns business owners, establishments that price tag is a must · Department of Trade and Industry · 6 May 2022
- Consumer Act implementation intensifies · Department of Trade and Industry · 23 January 2023
- Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) · Lawphil Project (Arellano Law Foundation) · 13 April 1992
- Republic Act No. 11967 (Internet Transactions Act of 2023) · Congress of the Philippines (via Lawphil) · 5 December 2023
The extra permits, in one table
| Permit or registration | Agency | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tags on all consumer products sold at retail[1] | DTI | always | Not published |
| Price tags/price list also required for online selling[2] | DTI | if selling online | Not published |
| Minimum labelling on consumer products sold: brand name, registered trademark and business name, Philippine address of manufacturer/importer, general make, country of manufacture if imported[3] | DTI (Consumer Act Art. 77) | always for products sold; label is applied by the manufacturer, importer or repacker (own-brand makers must label) | not applicable |
| Seller is liable for product defects if the manufacturer or importer cannot be identified[3] | DTI (Consumer Act Art. 98) | always (retail) | not applicable |
Rules and exemptions
Selling rules that apply
- Submit name + valid ID or business registration documents, address…[4]