Calendar manufacturers and retailers have suffered heavy losses from a government ban on extravagant gift-giving, news reports said.

According to the ban released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China on Oct 31, using public funds to buy printed gifts — including calendars and cards — is forbidden.

Many government agencies had to cancel their previous orders from calendar manufacturers and sellers, China Youth Daily reported on Thursday.

A calendar seller in Beijing told the newspaper that about 80 percent of his customers are government agencies and institutions.

Many government agencies have replaced printed cards with e-mail cards as gifts, which are environmentally friendly, the report said.