1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Notice: Archived Document
The content in this document is provided on the FDA’s website for reference purposes only. It was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may be outdated.

2. Structured Product Labeling (SPL)
CDR Vada Perkins, USPHS
Regulatory Program Management Officer
FDA/CBER/OD

3. BACKGROUND Federal Register of December 11, 2003 (68 FR 69009)
FDA published final regulations requiring that the content of labeling be submitted electronically “in a form" that FDA can process, review, and archive.
CDER announced in public docket number 92S-0251 the following new procedures for electronic submission of content of labeling, effective October 31, 2005:
PDF is no longer a format FDA can use to accept the content of labeling submitted electronically.
Applicants should use the SPL standard when submitting all labels, labeling supplements, and amendments to FDA in XML.
21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures; Final Rule Electronic Submissions; Establishment of Public Docket; Notice

4. CBER Notification http://www.fda.gov/oc/datacouncil/spl.html
Subject: Docket 92S-0251 – Transmittal
Effective Date: October 15, 2008
Notification established Health Level Seven (HL7) Structured Product Labeling (SPL) in XML as the only acceptable presentation in electronic format for the submission of the content of labeling
Applicable to the content of labeling with original submissions, supplements, and annual reports.
Regulatory citation: (l), (d), (b), (b).

5. Structured Product Labeling (SPL)
Electronic labeling standard developed by Health Level 7 (HL7)
Utilizes eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
Machine readable tags to improve search functionality across systems
Usability across multiple database platforms
Promote electronic health information initiatives
Enhance search capabilities

6. Current State Limited in: Readability Accessibility Usability
paper labels and forms cannot be accessed by computer systems

8. Drug Registration and Listing (Paper) Forms
(2656, 2657, 2658)

9. XML Structured Content
<time value=" "/>
      <assignedEntity>
            <id extension=“VP00019" root=" "/>
            <representedOrganization>
                  <name>Greatest Pharmaceuticals</name>
                  <addr>Metropolis, MA, USA</addr>
            </representedOrganization>
      </assignedEntity>
</author> 
•SPL is created using Extensible Markup Language (XML) –similar to HTML for webpages
•XML–Relatively human-legible –Machine readable–Tags (elements) permit search of key information
•XML Documents –created via Notepad, Word Pad, XML editing tools, SPL authoring tools, SPL conversion services, Xforms, etc…
•XSL Stylesheet –transforms the XML data to be viewed via web browser or printed documents

10. SPL Stylesheet View/Source Code
Courtesy of Lonnie Smith, FDA

11. Benefits of SPL Improved access Computer Readable Information Systems
Locate a specific section of the labeling and specific elements within labeling and product listing sections.
Information Systems
XML easily imported into information systems for other uses (e.g., data mining).
Publicly available
Content of Labeling is made available by the FDA thru NLM (DailyMed) to consumers and health care providers.

12. Draft Guidance for Industry: Providing Regulatory Submissions in Electronic Format – Drug Establishment Registration and Drug Listing (7/11/08)
Voluntary Pilot Program
NDC Labeler Code Request
Establishment Registration
Drug Listing/Content of Labeling
Guidance covers:
How to submit the information electronically in Structured Product Labeling (SPL) files, using a defined terminology.
Transition from paper-based to electronic submissions of drug establishment registration and drug listing information.
What registration and listing information (including labeling) to submit.
Test the performance of FDA’s electronic system for this type of submission.
Mandatory (1 June 09)

13. FDA eLIST
Inbound
TRANSMIT
(NLM Web)
(Redacted Listing Files)
DailyMed website
FDA ESG
Gateway
eList
Industry
REPOSITORY .
Pass
VALIDATE
PROCESS
FDA Web
(Redacted Listing Files)
website
Fail
Outbound
DATA FILES
(Database Reports)
Registration
Listing
ERROR MESSAGE
NDC Directory &
Establishments Websites
VALIDATION ERRORS
Validation of Structured Product Labeling Data Elements

14. Data Source – SPL Documents
NDC LCR
Listing/CoL
Labeler Code:
XXXXX
Labeler DUNS #:
Labeler Code:
XXXXX
Labeler DUNS #
Establishment
DUNS #(s)
Type of
Operations
Establishment Registration
Establishment
DUNS #(s)
Type of
Operation(s)
US Agent
Importer(s)
Courtesy of Lonnie Smith, FDA

15. SPL Terminology Only controlled terminology permitted in SPL.
Terminology lists located on FDA Data Standards Council’s SPL web page:

16. SPL Terminology
Only controlled terminology is permitted in SPL documents
Terminology lists are on FDA Data Standards Council’s SPL web page:
Route of administration
Dosage form
Package type
Units of measure and units of presentation
Color
Shape
Coating
Size
Scoring
Imprint codes
Symbols
SPL DEA Schedule
Section headings
Code system object identifiers (OIDs)
Document Type including Content of Labeling Type
Time Units: Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM)
Substances/Unique Ingredient Identifiers (UNIIs)
Business Operation
Marketing Category
Marketing Status
Equivalence Codes

17. Listserv FDA Data Standards Council Website

18. Acknowledgements Lonnie Smith, FDA/Office of Critical Path Programs
Randy Levin, MD, FDA/Office of Critical Path Programs

19. Thank You
General Questions: