Science & Technology 1400 Independence Ave, SW

Monitoring Programs Division Room 0611, Stop 0276

Washington, DC 20250

PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 1 

August 15, 2017

TO: See Distribution List

FROM: Diana Haynes

Director, Monitoring Programs Division

SUBJECT: Program Plan, October 2017 through March 2018 – Pesticide Data 

Program, Version 1.0

This Program Plan serves as the current Statement of Work for the period October 2017

through March 2018 for each of the States participating in the Pesticide Data Program 

(PDP). The contents of the Plan have been discussed with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

I. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES

A. Summary Status:

The 2016 PDP Annual Summary is being drafted and is anticipated to be released before 

the end of the calendar year.

B. Cooperative Agreements/Financial:

The fiscal year (FY) ends on September 30, 2017 for States with FY funding. Ensure all 

FY17 expenses have been obligated on or prior to this date. Final 270s are due no later 

than December 31, 2017. For States operating on the calendar year, final 270s are due no 

later than March 31, 2018, for authorized charges that occurred in FY17.

C. Program Meetings:

PDP Federal/State Meeting: The PDP 2018 Federal/State Meeting is tentatively 

scheduled to be held in February 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. Attendees will include 

PDP Administrative Managers, Sampling Managers, Technical Program Managers, and 

Quality Assurance Officers as well as representatives from the Florida Department of 

Agriculture and Consumer Services, USDA, EPA, FDA, and industry.

DIANA HAYNES Digitally signed by DIANA HAYNES 

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Department 

of Agriculture, cn=DIANA HAYNES, 

0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001000170119 

Date: 2017.08.15 07:41:38 -04'00'
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 2 

D. Advisory Committees:

Sampling Advisory Group: Members of the Sampling Advisory Group (SAG) are

Saeed Akhtar (New York), Don Gallegos (Colorado), and Nathan Chambers 

(Washington). Saeed Akhtar serves as the Presiding Member of the SAG.

Technical Advisory Group: Members of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) are 

Karen Stephani (New York), Gail Parker (Florida), and Hugh Robinson (Texas). Karen 

Stephani serves as the Presiding Member of the TAG.

E. PDP Fiscal Year 2018 Proficiency Testing Program: The PDP FY2018

Proficiency Testing (PT) program schedule (v 1.0) is posted on the PDP Extranet site.

Refer to SOPs PDP-ADMIN and PDP-QC for PT program requirements, reporting 

procedures, acceptability criteria, and requirements for potential follow-up actions.

F. Standard Operating Procedures:

SOPs Released July 1, 2017

x PDP-LABOP: Sample Processing and Analysis

SOPs to be Released February 1, 2018

x PDP-QC: Chemical Compounds, PDP Commodity Grouping, Method Validation

and Quality Control

SOPs to be Released April 1, 2018

x PDP-DATA: Data and Instrumentation

G. Electronic Transfer of Data

RDE Version Upgrades:

The Monitoring Programs Division (MPD) staff is currently developing a new, 

distributed RDE application that will be built in MS-Access and installed at each 

participating laboratory. This system will replace the Web-based RDE system used by 

participating laboratories. The Web-RDE system uses outdated software components that 

are no longer supported and does not allow easy fixes or modifications. 

The new RDE system will allow easy implementation of changes to table structures to 

expand field sizes, add new fields, or even add new data tables, which the existing WebRDE restricts because of registration problems with the separate .DLL components that 

handle the data import process. Compatibility and security issues with the web browser 

environment will also be eliminated, such as problems with generating/displaying reports 

in Web-RDE and importing files using the Java runtime applet. The local database will 

give labs access to data entered so that ad-hoc queries or customized reports can be run 

for State-required production reports. Transfer of completed datasets will be handled by 

e-mail or posting to the PDP Extranet site. This distributed RDE system will allow 

laboratories to continue PDP data entry, review and reporting activities when USDA Web 
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 3 

resources are shut down. The target completion date for the new, local RDE system is 

February 2018. The target retirement date for the Web-RDE system is April 2018. 

An upgrade to the RDE e-SIF system (V5.0) was developed and distributed to State 

Sampling Managers in October 2016. The new version captures the package/container 

type separate from the commodity type, accepts larger entries in text fields like the Lot# 

and facility name, and eliminates the postharvest fungicide labeling entry. The e-SIF 

Clearinghouse system at MPD was modified to process incoming e-SIFs in both the old 

(V4.1) and new (V5.0) formats. All e-SIFs received in the new (V5.0) format are being 

rolled-back to the old (V4.1) format when the e-SIF text files are generated for import to 

Web-RDE and delivery to labs. Once a lab is ready to use the new distributed RDE 

application, e-SIFs in the new (V5.0) format will be sent. Sample data that were left off 

the rolled-back e-SIF will be restored when the group/set holding the sample is uploaded 

from RDE into the central PDP calendar-year database at MPD. As of July 1, 2017, all 

State samplers are required to have RDE e-SIF V5.0 installed for use. Having all 

samplers using V5.0 makes the data review process at the receiving labs easier and faster.

H. Presumptive Tolerance Violation Reporting

Data for Presumptive Tolerance Violations (PTVs) are communicated to FDA and EPA 

on a monthly basis. FDA utilizes the PTV reports in choosing commodities that require 

extra sampling. EPA uses the data for dietary risk assessments and pesticide 

reregistration decisions. MPD is also providing the data to USDA’s Office of Pest 

Management Policy (OPMP) for communication to grower groups, the Foreign

Agricultural Service (FAS) to assist in facilitating the export of domestic commodities,

and the National Organic Program (NOP) to inform them of any potential PTVs detected 

on claimed organic samples. PDP States may request a copy of the monthly PTV report 

by contacting MPD.

An expanded tolerance table was issued on July 21, 2017 containing tolerances for all 

commodities in the program at that time. The next tolerance table is expected to be issued 

in January 2018 and will include the commodities entering the program in October 2017 

and January 2018.

II. PROGRAM SAMPLING AND TESTING UPDATES

A. Sampling Changes and Rotations: Shipping charts are distributed quarterly to 

Sampling Managers by MPD. Draft shipping Charts for the 4th quarter of calendar year

2017 and 1st quarter of calendar year 2018 are attached to this document. Actual shipping 

dates and fact sheets will be issued under separate cover.

Sampling Deletions

Applesauce collection ends September 30, 2017.

Grapefruit collection ends September 30, 2017.
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 4 

Tomato (canned) collection ends September 30, 2017.

Bottled water collection ends December 31, 2017.

Milk collection ends December 31, 2017.

Onion collection ends December 31, 2017.

Pineapple (canned) collection ends December 31, 2017.

Sampling Additions

Garbanzo beans (canned) will be added October 1, 2017. Garbanzo beans will remain 

in the program for one year. All samples will be shipped to the New York (NY1) 

laboratory. Refer to the current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and 

shipping guidelines. 

Mangoes will be added October 1, 2017. Mangoes will remain in the program for one 

year. Samples will be shipped to the California (CA1) and Texas (TX1) laboratories.

Refer to the current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and shipping 

guidelines.

Plums/prunes (dried) will be added October 1, 2017. Dried plums/prunes will remain in 

the program for one year. All samples will be shipped to the Washington (WA1) 

laboratory. Refer to the current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and 

shipping guidelines.

Green onions will be added January 1, 2018. Green onions will remain in the program 

for one year. All samples will be shipped to the Florida (FL1) laboratory. Refer to the 

current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and shipping guidelines.

Peaches (canned) will be added January 1, 2018. Canned peaches will remain in the 

program for one year. Samples will be shipped to the Michigan (MI1) and New York 

(NY1) laboratories. Refer to the current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, 

packaging and shipping guidelines. 

Raisins will be added January 1, 2018. Raisins will remain in the program for one year. 

All samples will be shipped to the New York (NY1) laboratory. Refer to the current 

commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and shipping guidelines. 

Wheat flour will be added January 1, 2018. Wheat flour will remain in the program for 

one year. All samples will be shipped to the California (CA1) laboratory. Refer to the 

current commodity fact sheet for sample selection, packaging and shipping guidelines. 
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 5 

Sampling Continuations

Asparagus, cranberries (fresh/frozen), cabbage, kale, olives, snap peas, and sweet 

potatoes continue to be sampled. Sweet potato sampling ends March 31, 2018.

PDP Sampling Commodity Counts

June 1, 2017 through August 31, 2017 = 15 commodities

x Removed cucumbers and lettuce

x Added asparagus and cabbage

September 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017 = 14 commodities

x Remove honey

October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 = 14 commodities

x Remove applesauce, grapefruit, and tomatoes (canned)

x Add garbanzo beans (canned), mangoes, and plums/prunes (dried)

January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018 = 14 commodities

x Remove bottled water, milk, onions, and pineapple (canned)

x Add green onions, peaches (canned), raisins, and wheat flour

B. Testing Deletions and Changes:

Testing Deletions

Applesauce collection ends September 30, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of 

applesauce by the Washington (WA1) laboratory.

Grapefruit collection ends September 30, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of 

grapefruit by the California (CA1) and Texas (TX) laboratories.

Tomato (canned) collection ends September 30, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of 

canned tomatoes by the New York (NY1) laboratory.

Bottled water collection ends December 31, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of 

bottled water by the New York (NY1) laboratory.

Milk collection ends December 31, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of milk by the 

California (CA1) laboratory.

Onion collection ends December 31, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing of onions by 

the Florida (FL1) and New York (NY1) laboratories.

Pineapple (canned) collection ends December 31, 2017. This ends multi-residue testing 

of canned pineapple by the Florida (FL1) and Michigan (MI1) laboratories.
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 6 

Testing Additions

Garbanzo beans will be added October 1, 2017. Garbanzo beans will remain in the 

program for one year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the New York (NY1) 

laboratory. Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are listed in 

the memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Mangoes will be added October 1, 2017. Mangoes will remain in the program for one

year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the California (CA1) and Texas (TX1) 

laboratories. Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are listed in 

the memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Plums/prunes (dried) will be added October 1, 2017. Dried plums/prunes will remain in 

the program for one year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the Washington 

(WA1) laboratory. Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are 

listed in the memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Green onions will be added January 1, 2018. Green onions will remain in the program 

for one year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the Florida (FL1) laboratory.

Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are listed in the 

memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Peaches (canned) will be added January 1, 2018. Canned peaches will remain in the 

program for one year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the Michigan (MI1) and 

New York (NY1) laboratories. Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of 

interest are listed in the memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Raisins will be added January 1, 2018. Raisins will remain in the program for one year. 

Multi-residue testing will be performed by the New York (NY1) laboratory. Commodity 

specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are listed in the memorandum posted 

to the PDP Extranet site.

Wheat flour will be added January 1, 2018. Wheat flour will remain in the program for 

one year. Multi-residue testing will be performed by the California (CA1) laboratory.

Commodity specific requirements regarding analytes of interest are listed in the 

memorandum posted to the PDP Extranet site.

Testing Continuations

Aspargus, cranberries (fresh/frozen), cabbage, kale, olives, snap peas, and sweet 

potatoes continue to be sampled and tested. Sweet potato sampling ends March 31, 

2018.
PDP October 2017 through March 2018 Program Plan, v1.0 Page 7 

C. Web Site for PDP Information:

For Pesticide Data Program information check out our Internet Web Site:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/pdp

Attachment