A method of displaying a product restriction message by an electronic price label which uses a product restriction indicator. The product restriction message is stored with the product restriction indicator in a first location. The product restriction indicator is stored in a second location. A control message addressed to the EPL is created by reading the product restriction indicator for the EPL from the second location and reading the product restriction message from the first location. The control message to the EPL is transmitted. The control message is received by the EPL. Finally, the product restriction message is displayed by the EPL. The first location may be a price look-up (PLU) file and/or an EPL data file.