The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is publishing information, to help businesses understand how new legislation may impact on their gift vouchers policy.

From Monday, it says businesses across Ireland will need to review the terms and conditions of the gift vouchers they sell to ensure that they comply with the law change.

The CCPC has published guidance to help businesses understand the new legislation, and assess how the new rules may impact on them.

Some of the main changes include that a gift voucher cannot have an expiry date less than five years from the date it was purchased.

Firms have to provide a record of the expiry date to customers in writing - for example on paper or by e-mail.

Shops also cannot limit the amount of vouchers used in a single transaction, and they cannot refuse to accept gift vouchers that are not in the user's name.

Source: CCPC

Traders also cannot charge a fee for changing or amending the name on a gift voucher.

Gift vouchers that were sold before the new legislation came into effect do not have to comply with the new requirements.

However, any gift vouchers issued from December 2nd must be provided under the conditions in the new legislation.

If a business has vouchers pre-printed, they can give the customer written confirmation of whether there is an expiry period.

CCPC chairperson Isolde Goggin says: "This legislation gives consumers valuable additional protections and in the run up to Christmas it will be of considerable benefit to anyone who buys or receives a gift voucher.

"Businesses, whether they are a restaurant, hotel, service provider or retailer, now need to take action and check that they are compliant with the law.

"We know that this is a busy and critical time for businesses so we are providing them with practical information to help them make the necessary changes they need to their gift voucher terms and conditions."

"We are also engaging with major trade associations and representative groups to get this information to as many businesses as possible."