SmartLabel Pilot Enters Phase 3 Testing

For Release: September 30, 2016

EPA has initiated the third phase of the SmartLabel Pilot, an initiative to develop an electronic submission, storage, and query system for pesticide labels, including label content and product use pattern information. The SmartLabel system will allow pesticide manufacturers to develop and submit to EPA for review the following:

• SmartLabel Content, structured pesticide label content information (e.g., precautionary statement, directions for use, etc.)
• SmartLabel Use Index, a standardized tabular summary of the product use patterns for each submitted label.

The SmartLabel Content will make the label review process more efficient by creating a standard template for the electronic submission of pesticide label content to EPA, allowing for quicker reviews and easier comparisons to previous label versions. Additionally, the SmartLabel Use Index information can be used in conjunction with the structured information from the SmartLabel Content to inform review of the label. Information from both the SmartLabel Content and SmartLabel Use Index will be used to populate a searchable database of standardized label content and use data for all products, which can be used in support of risk assessments and registration decisions. We are working with nine pesticide manufacturers who volunteered for the SmartLabel pilot in December 2014.

In this third phase, anyone interested may provide input on the two builders that were developed and the supporting documentation that was revised based on the experience gained and comments received during the earlier phases of this initiative, which are described below:

• The SmartLabel Content Builder, which allows users to input pesticide label content by category (e.g., precautionary statements, directions for use, etc.), and pick lists of vocabulary terms (e.g., active ingredient, use site, pest, etc.) that, when put together, make up the pesticide product label content. These vocabulary terms will be used for searching and sorting pesticide labels.
• The SmartLabel Use Index Builder, which allows users to input product use data using a structured format, numerical data fields, and picklists of vocabulary terms (e.g., active ingredient, use site, application equipment, application timing, restrictions/limitations, etc.) that, when put together, make up the pesticide product use list. These vocabulary terms and numerical data fields will be used for searching and analyzing product use data.
• Updated documentation, including a revised User Guide, vocabulary lists, and style sheets.

We welcome comments on these documents, as well as input on the builders themselves, through November 18, 2016. Submit comments to smartlabel@epa.gov.

View information about the SmartLabel project, including instructions for access to the test site and the documents supporting the pilot.

The SmartLabel system will result in a database that allows EPA and the Food and Drug Administration to share and process information much more easily. These efforts support the EPA and FDA Memorandum of Understanding that establishes policies and procedures to enhance the exchange of information between the agencies related to food safety and pesticide data in an electronic format, including pesticide labeling. (See docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0325 on www.regulations.gov.)