The Banking and Payments Federation has issued a press release warning SMEs about supplier and invoice scams. Click here to read the release.

The European Commission has recently opened a consultation to amend the Food Supplement Regulation (1925/2006) that proposes to ban all products containing Aloe Vera – including ones that retailers might have in stock or on their shelves – without any transition period. Independent Retail Europe, of which RGDATA is an associate member, has developed a draft position paper on the issue and is seeking clarification on which products are affected.

The draft Regulation aims to prohibit the intentional addition of botanical species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives, an extract from aloe plants, because of their potentially carcinogenic effects. However, the scope is unclear and the current text could be interpreted in such a way that all products containing aloe will be banned. This could impact on a range of food products and certain beverages such as juices, alcoholic spirits.

IRE is seeking urgent clarifications on the scope in a draft position paper. If you currently stock and sell products containing Aloe Vera any comments or suggestions are welcome until 20 April COB email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley continues to liaise with Government, the HSE, other regulatory bodies and the media raising the concerns and issues arising for independent family shops, convenience stores and supermarkets. The RGDATA Board held a special Covid 19 meeting via conference call and will continue to liaise regularly to identify RGDATA members’ issues and concerns and ensure that action is taken to address them.

Please email us with any concerns that you have to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will revert to you within 24 hours. Our telephone Helpline 01-2887584 is active 9am – 5.30pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Make sure you are getting our news emails and ezines – send us in contact details if you want us to message you to different email addresses or mobile phones.

RGDATA is liaising with the Central Bank and the main banks to raise independent retailers’ concerns regarding cash, payments and banking services. If you have any issues that you need addressed please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will contact you to speak in confidence. RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley is due to have a conference call meeting with the Bank of Ireland CEO on Thursday.

Click here to read the latest issue of Convenience & Forecourt Retailer which includes an article by Tara Buckley, Director General RGDATA about the challenges facing independent retailers in 2020.

RGDATA is providing feedback to Government on the range of supports it is providing to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic. Further measures are expected today so stay updated by reading RGDATA messages and send us your feedback on the practicality of any measures proposed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Click here for the latest Government information.

RGDATA Director general Tara Buckley is actively engaging with the HSE, the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on different advisory groups that are meeting regularly on Covid-19. Please keep RGDATA updated on any issues that are arising in your stores, any views you have about the management of the crisis. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Government has published a National Action Plan on Covid-19. You can read it here.

Click here for a copy of the Government’s latest Covid-19 poster. The HSE advice is that anyone experiencing fever and/or cough should self-isolate and contact their GP by phone.

Click here to read the press release from Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty about simplified unemployment payments and payments possible through employers.