Office of Pesticide Program Electronic Label (OPPEL) Pilot
Note: The pilot formerly known as SmartLabel is now the Office of Pesticide Program Electronic Label (OPPEL).
In an effort to make pesticide label information easier to find and the approval of pesticide labels more efficient, EPA is working with pesticide registrants to pilot an electronic label system. As part of the OPPEL pilot, nine pesticide registrants will be developing and submitting pesticide labels to EPA through a fully electronic system, instead of as paper or PDF files.
One of the goals of the OPPEL system is to make label information more quickly available to the public in an easily searchable format. As a fully electronic system, OPPEL will make the label approval process more efficient by creating standardized label sections for all pesticide labels. The system will also make it easier to compare previous label versions without losing the necessary flexibility to make a label appropriate for each product.
Phase 3 of the Pilot
The third phase of the pilot has begun. We have developed two builders and supporting documentation that we revised based on the experience gained and comments received during the earlier phases of this initiative:
- The OPPEL 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 OPPEL 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.
Test and comment on the test electronic label creator Exit (the pilot tool being used to create OPPEL labels):
- To access the OPPEL SPL templates, select "End-Use Pesticide Labeling" or “Use Index” from the "Choose an SPL Document" drop down list and click the ”Select” button. (See account instructions below.)
- The documents available on the Pilot Documents page can be used to guide users’ input into the builder.
Adding a Role to your CDX Test Account and Getting Access to OPPEL SPL Builder
If you already have an account in the test area:
- Navigate to https://test.epacdx.net.
- Login with your CDX Test environment credentials.
- Click the green “Add Program Service” Button.
- Select “PSP: Pesticide Submission Portal” from the Active Program Services List.
- Select the “Beta Tester” Role from the dropdown.
- Click the green “Request Role Access” button.
- The “Select a Current Organization” radio button should be selected.
- From the dropdown, select your organization.
- Click the green “Submit Request for Access.”
- Your request should automatically be accepted and the new role should display on the MyCDX homepage.
Creating a CDX Account and Getting Access to OPPEL SPL Builder
If you do not have an account in the test area:
- Navigate to https://test.epacdx.net.
- Click “Register with CDX” button.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Select “PSP: Pesticide Submission Portal” from the Active Program Services List.
- Select the “Beta Tester” Role form the dropdown.
- Enter in your Company Number, and click “next”.
- Confirm organization information.
- Fill out all required fields under the “User and Organization” section and click “Submit Request for Access” at the bottom of the page.
- Your request should automatically be accepted and the new role should display on the MyCDX homepage.
Please note that the CDX OPPEL Builder is a draft tool being used for piloting purposes. If you wish to provide any comments or have questions regarding the functionality and interface of the tool, please identify them as "Builder Comments" and submit them to Smartlabel@epa.gov.
Comments are due by November 18, 2016. Submit comments on the builder (see above) or the documents located at OPPEL Documents by emailing Smartlabel@epa.gov.
OPPEL Pilot Background
In summer 2014 we solicited participants in the OPPEL pilot through the PRIA coalition workgroup and posted an announcement on our pesticide website. Starting December 4, 2014, the following nine pesticide registrants will be participating in the pilot:
- Bayer CropScience;
- Clorox;
- Dow AgroSciences;
- EcoLab;
- Marrone Bio;
- Reckitt Benckiser;
- SePRO;
- Syngenta; and
- United Industries Corporation.
These registrants are testing the following product types:
- Conventional pesticides in agricultural products and/or lawn and garden products.
- Microbial and biochemical pesticides in agricultural and/or mosquito larvicidal products.
- Antimicrobial pesticides in hospital disinfectant, wood preservative, and/or pool products.
Throughout the pilot we have conducted informational webinars/meetings for pilot participants to discuss proposed OPPEL processes and policies, demonstrate how to create an OPPEL label, and to answer participant questions.
The OPPEL 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.)
Additional Information
For more information on EPA's activities on the OPPEL pilot contact:
- Marietta Echeverria (echeverria.marietta@epa.gov)
- Patty Parrott (parrott.patricia@epa.gov)
- Phil Villanueva (villanueva.philip@epa.gov).