Rice is a staple food for Filipinos. Since it is one of the basic necessities of most families in the country, it is also a stable business once a steady rice supplier is in place.

If you are an OFW looking for a business venture or you want to start a business selling rice or corn from the NFA, a prior license must be secured first before commencing the business.

Starting Up

Before the start of any business activity connected to selling or distributing rice, the proprietor or operator would need to secure a license from the National Food Authority. For those who already have the license, they should renew their annual license on any day within the scheduled month allotted by the NFA.

Applications for the license can only be filed at the NFA office that has jurisdiction over the location where the primary business of the applicant is located. If you have more than one store outlet, these outlets are considered branches of the main outlet and should all secure licenses.

New Application Procedure

If it is a new application, follow these procedures to secure your NFA license:

1. After paying the application fee, secure an application form from the licensing office.

2. Accomplish and file an application with your complete requirements to the licensing officer. This officer will check all your documents and determine the corresponding license fee.

3. Pay the license fee to the cashier and get a copy of your official receipt.

4. Prepare the facilities and equipment requirements for inspection by the NFA investigators.

5. After inspection of the establishments, prepare the notice of inspection to the licensing officer, the official receipt, and proof of compliance with deficiencies.

6. The licensing officer will issue the license if the application is found to be in order.

7. Applicants should display the license in the establishment.

After the submission of application, NFA investigators will inspect the establishments and facilities within 20 business days. Those who incur deficiency will be given specific dates when the inspection will be conducted again upon provision of the outstanding requirements. Otherwise, they will be notified when they can pick up the license. In all these cases, it should not exceed the 20 business days period.

How Much Are the Fees?

The application fee is PHP50 for a single line of activity and P100 for two or more activities. The license fee depends on the capacity of the post-harvest equipment used.

Other than the retail outlet, NFA will also require the registration of other facilities such as:

• Motor vehicles used or intended to be used in transporting or hauling of palay, rice or corn whether for exclusive use or for hire except for public utility vehicles franchises by proper government agencies not principally used for transporting of rice, palay, or corn
• Warehouses, threshers, and sellers for own produce
• Mechanical dryers for owner or operator’s exclusive use
• Packaging machines for owner or operator’s exclusive use
• Institutions or establishments securing their rice or corn requirements from the NFA
• Poultry and hog raisers securing by-products from the NFA
• Manufacturers, importers, dealers, and distributors of rice or corn post-harvest facilities
• Non-operating mills and other post-harvest facilities

All businessmen engaged in the following activities are required to have a license for the following:

• Retailing
• Wholesailing
• Milling
• Warehousing
• Corn shelling
• Processing or Manufacturing
• Threshing
• Exporting
• Importing
• Indenting
• Packaging
• Mechanical Drying

If a business plans to cease operation, the license or registration certificate can be surrendered to the NFA office along with a written notice of discontinuance. If the business reapplies for another license or registration, you will be charged with the fees for the entire period that you have not applied for the renewal.