On 2 December 2019 Ireland introduced the Consumer Protection
(Gift Vouchers) Act which sets a minimum five-year expiry period
for gift vouchers and prohibits any charge for changing the name on
the voucher or that the voucher be spent in full in a single
transaction. This applies to all gift vouchers sold from 2 December
2019.
The Act follows a long campaign by the Consumer Association of
Ireland to regulate the sale and redemption of gift vouchers in
Ireland and is designed to offer further protection to consumers.
Its introduction is timely given the popularity of gift vouchers
during the Christmas period.
Overview
The Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019 (the Act)
amends the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (the 2007 Act). The Act
came into operation on 2 December 2019.
