Home › Business kits › Stores and retail
A pet shop needs a Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) certificate of registration as an animal facility, and the rules put it before the mayor's permit. That is the order most new owners get backward. BAI in turn asks for an Animal Welfare Seminar certificate and an ECC or Certificate of Non-Coverage from DENR, so book the seminar early.[1,2]
Pet shop prep list
- Book a slot in the next BAI or DA Animal Welfare Seminar
- Get a floor plan with cage areas, ventilation and drainage
- Ask DENR-EMB for a CNC or ECC
- Sign a contract or MOA with a licensed veterinarian
- Fill in BAI form RF-AHWD-04
- Print price tags for every shelf item before opening day
- Keep supplier records for each animal you sell
The order that works
RA 8485 bars anyone from running a pet shop without a BAI certificate of registration, and the revised rules place BAI registration before the mayor's permit.[1]
BAI's 2024 charter asks for an Animal Welfare Seminar certificate of attendance and an ECC or CNC from DENR-EMB, whichever applies. Seminars are run by BAI and the DA regional offices.[2]
- First: attend the Animal Welfare Seminar
- Second: get the ECC or CNC from DENR-EMB
- Third: file BAI form RF-AHWD-04
- Last: apply for the mayor's permit with the BAI certificate
When you need a veterinarian on paper
BAI asks for the facility veterinarian's PRC licence and PTR, and a contract or MOA with the vet if applicable.[2]
Find a vet before you file. Ask them to sign a simple MOA that says how often they visit and who calls them in an emergency.
Price tags on food and supplies
Pet food, cages and grooming items are consumer products sold at retail, and the Consumer Act requires price tags on them. DTI monitors stores and cites fines for missing tags.[3]
Questions people ask
- How much is BAI registration for a pet shop?
- ₱500 for the first one-year registration and ₱1,500 for a three-year renewal.
- Can I get the mayor's permit first and BAI later?
- The revised rules put BAI registration first. Plan for the BAI certificate to be in hand when you apply for the mayor's permit.
- What if I want to sell exotic or wild species?
- BAI's charter mentions a DENR wildlife permit where applicable. We have not detailed that permit yet, so ask DENR before you buy stock.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- Compilation of Animal Welfare Issuances (RA 8485, RA 10631, Revised IRR, DA orders) · Bureau of Animal Industry
- BAI Citizen's Charter 2024 (Animal Health and Welfare Division) · Bureau of Animal Industry · 2024
- DTI warns business owners, establishments that price tag is a must · Department of Trade and Industry · 6 May 2022
The extra permits, in one table
| Permit or registration | Agency | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAI Certificate of Registration as animal facility (pet shop), before Mayor's Permit[1] | Bureau of Animal Industry | always | PHP 500 initial (1 year); PHP 1,500 renewal (3 years) |
| BAI registration fee (pet shop)[2] | Bureau of Animal Industry | always | PHP 500 initial; PHP 1,500 renewal |
| Animal Welfare Seminar certificate of attendance[2] | Bureau of Animal Industry | always | Not published |
| ECC or Certificate of Non-Coverage[2] | DENR-EMB | always (whichever is applicable) | Not published |
| Veterinarian's PRC license and PTR; employment contract/MOA with veterinarian[2] | PRC / facility veterinarian | if applicable | Not published |
| Price tags on all consumer products sold at retail[3] | DTI | always | Not published |