Home › Business kits › Stores and retail
A convenience store's extra rules are about what is on the shelf. DTI requires price tags on retail goods. If you sell cigarettes or vapes, you cannot sell within 100 meters of a school or playground, or to minors. Many owners overlook the small one: household insect sprays and other pesticides may need an FPA license. FPA sets the fee.[1,3,4,5]
Before you stock the shelves
- Measure the distance to the nearest school and playground.
- Print price tags or set up shelf pricing with a price check counter.
- Post the no-sale-to-minors notice at the cigarette counter.
- Train staff to ask for a government photo ID for vape buyers.
- Ask vape suppliers for proof of DTI product registration.
- Apply for the FPA license if you will sell insect sprays.
- Ask the health office if you need a sanitary permit for food you prepare.
Price tags or shelf prices
The Consumer Act requires price tags, labels or markings on consumer products sold at retail. DTI cites fines of ₱200 to ₱5,000 and/or 1 to 6 months in prison. Selling a basic necessity without a price tag is prima facie evidence of profiteering.[1]
Shelf pricing, instead of tagging each item, is allowed only if you issue itemized receipts and install at least one price verification counter. Shelf prices must be at least 8 mm high.[2]
Selling cigarettes and vapes
RA 9211 bans tobacco sales within 100 meters of any point of a school or public playground perimeter. You may not sell to minors, must check age when in doubt, and must post a clear notice that selling tobacco to minors is unlawful.[3]
For vapes and heated tobacco, RA 11900 sets the minimum age at 18 and requires a check of a valid government photo ID. The same 100-meter rule applies near schools and playgrounds, and you may sell only products registered with DTI by the maker or importer.[4]
Measure from your door to the nearest school gate and playground before you sign the lease.
Insect spray and household pesticides
FPA licenses dealers and retailers of fertilizer and pesticides. The license fee is set by FPA, so ask FPA which license fits a store selling insect sprays and what it costs.[5]
Questions people ask
- Can I sell cigarettes if my store is near a school?
- Not within 100 meters of any point of the school's perimeter, under RA 9211. The same distance applies to public playgrounds.
- Do I need to tag every item?
- Not if you meet DTI's shelf pricing rules: itemized receipts, at least one price verification counter, and shelf prices at least 8 mm high.
- What ID do I check for vape buyers?
- A valid government-issued photo ID. RA 11900 sets the minimum age at 18.
- Do I need a sanitary permit?
- Ask your city health office, especially if you heat or prepare food in the store. It issues sanitary permits and can tell you what applies to your shop.
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
- DTI Administrative Order No. 09, s. 2002: Providing Rules on Price Tags/Labels Authorizing the Use of Shelf Pricing in Combination with Modern Technology for Automatic Product Identification · Supreme Court E-Library (text of DTI AO 09) · 10 September 2002
- Republic Act No. 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003) · Lawphil (text of RA 9211) · 23 June 2003
- Republic Act No. 11900 (Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act) · Lawphil (text of RA 11900) · 25 July 2022
- Citizen's Charter 2025 (External Services) · Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority · November 2025
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 tag on basic necessities/prime commodities[1] | DTI | if selling basic necessities or prime commodities | Not published |
| Shelf pricing rules (DTI AO 09 s. 2002)[2] | DTI | if using shelf prices instead of item price tags | Not published |
| Sell only vape/HTP products registered with DTI by the manufacturer/importer[4] | DTI | if selling vapes / heated tobacco products | Not published |
| FPA license if retailing household pesticides[5] | Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority | if retailing household pesticides | Set by FPA; ask FPA |
Rules and exemptions
Selling rules that apply
- No tobacco sales within 100 m of schools and public…: Sale or distribution of tobacco products is prohibited within 100 meters of any point of a school or public playground perimeter (RA 9211 Sec. 10)[3]
- No tobacco sales to minors; verify age when in doubt: Retailers may not sell tobacco to minors and must verify age when in doubt (RA 9211 Secs. 9, 12)[3]
- Post notice that sale of tobacco to minors is unlawful: Establishments selling tobacco must post a clear, conspicuous notice that sale to minors is unlawful (RA 9211 Sec. 11)[3]
- Sell vapes/HTPs only to 18+; check valid government photo ID: Vapes/HTPs: minimum age 18; retailers must check a valid government photo ID (RA 11900 Secs. 6-7)[4]
- No vape sales within 100 m of schools, playgrounds and…: Sale of vape products prohibited within 100 meters of any point of a school perimeter, playgrounds and similar (RA 11900 Sec. 9)[4]