Which statement accurately describes the third step in the FSMA Preventative Controls approach?

• A. Identify Hazard
• B. Understand Cause
• C. Implement Preventative Controls
• D. Monitor Effectiveness

Answer: (C)

In the FSMA Preventive Controls approach, the sequence starts with identifying hazards through a hazard analysis, then determining what preventive controls are needed to address those hazards, and the next move is to put those controls into place in the production process. Implementing preventive controls means actually applying the measures that will prevent or reduce identified hazards—things like process controls, sanitation controls, allergen controls, and supplier controls—so they are active parts of the operation. Only after these controls are in place do you move to monitoring their performance and verifying that they work as intended, with any necessary corrective actions if problems arise.

So the third step is implementing those preventive controls because you’ve already identified what must be controlled, and the next logical step is to establish concrete controls in the system itself. The first step would be identifying hazards, and monitoring effectiveness comes after controls are in place, while a vague notion like “understand cause” isn’t a formal step in this framework.