21 CFR Part 820 · Quality Management System Regulation

§ 820.100 Corrective and preventive ac

Subpart J - Corrective and Preventive Action Official text on eCFR
Removed from 21 CFR. The Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR) replaced the Quality System Regulation on 2 Feb 2026. Corrective and preventive action now sits in § 820.10 through ISO 13485:2016 clause 8.5.2. See § 820.10. The text below is the former QSR wording, kept for reference.

tion.

(a) Each manufacturer shall establish and maintain procedures for implementing corrective and preventive action. The procedures shall include requirements for:

(1) Analyzing processes, work operations, concessions, quality audit reports, quality records, service records, complaints, returned product, and other sources of quality data to identify existing and potential causes of nonconforming product, or other quality problems. Appropriate statistical methodology shall be employed where necessary to detect recurring quality problems;

(2) Investigating the cause of nonconformities relating to product, processes, and the quality system;

(3) Identifying the action(s) needed to correct and prevent recurrence of nonconforming product and other quality problems;

(4) Verifying or validating the corrective and preventive action to ensure that such action is effective and does not adversely affect the finished device;

(5) Implementing and recording changes in methods and procedures needed to correct and prevent identified quality problems;

(6) Ensuring that information related to quality problems or nonconforming product is disseminated to those directly responsible for assuring the quality of such product or the prevention of such problems; and

(7) Submitting relevant information on identified quality problems, as well as corrective and preventive actions, for management review.

(b) All activities required under this section, and their results, shall be documented. Subpart K—Labeling and Packaging Control

Independent copy, not an official legal edition. 21 CFR is a U.S. Government work in the public domain; this text comes from the eCFR and the annual CFR edition, and may lag recent amendments. The authoritative version is on ecfr.gov. Compliome is not affiliated with or endorsed by FDA. Not legal advice.

What FDA inspectors cite under § 820.100

Form FDA 483 observations citing this section, fiscal years 2009–2026 (Devices).

  • Lack of or inadequate procedures 4,323
  • Documentation 1,312
  • Procedures 68
  • Identification of actions needed 65
  • CAPA verification/validation of corrective/preventive action 58
  • Investigation procedures 37

Warning letters citing § 820.100

183 FDA warning letters since 2017 cite this section ; the most recent:

FDA guidance that cites § 820.100

and 6 more.