FDA 483 OBSERVATION · #236 OF 1,923 MOST-CITED
Instruments and Controls
FDA cited this observation 127 times across 122 firms in recent inspections. Below: how it breaks down by program area and fiscal year, and real examples of how FDA worded it on Form FDA 483.
What this grouping is not
An observation-type page groups FDA’s published citation records. The grouping, the compliance steps and the root causes are SPEQ synthesis, not an FDA classification of any citation, and a count measures what FDA published rather than risk.
What this observation is associated with
Firms cited for this observation also appear in FDA compliance actions — warning letters, injunctions, or seizures — at 1.4× the rate of the average FDA-cited firm (10.7% vs 7.8%), across 122 FEI-matched firms.
This is an association, not causation, and reflects co-occurrence in FDA's records — not a claim that the observation caused or preceded the action.
How FDA worded it — real examples
Your instruments and controls are not adequately maintained to control or prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in animal food.
Your instruments and controls are not accurate, precise and adequately maintained to control or prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in animal food.
Your instruments and controls were not accurate and precise.
Your instruments and controls were not accurate and precise.
Your instruments and controls were not accurate, precise and adequately maintained.
Your instruments and controls were not accurate.
Related SPEQ references
Where to read the requirements behind this observation area on SPEQ. These are SPEQ's topic and audience pages — not an FDA classification of the citation.
Examples are a representative sample of FDA's published inspection observations. Open the 483 observation explorer →