LFIs must take a risk-based approach to the preventive measures they put in place for all customers, including customers in the real estate and precious metals and stones sectors. A risk-based approach means that LFIs should dedicate compliance resources and effort to customers, business lines, branches, and products and services in keeping with the risk presented by those customers, business lines, branches, and products and services, as assessed in accordance with Article 4 of AML-CFT Decision.

The risk-based approach has three principal components: