US court orders FDA action on morning-after pill

A FEDERAL judge has ordered the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to make “morning-after” emergency contraception pills available without a prescription to all girls of reproductive age, while blasting top Obama administration officials for interfering with the process.

The ruling yesterday in a Brooklyn court is the latest step in the years-long legal saga over the pill known as Plan B, which has sparked political controversy.

Currently, only women aged 17 or older can obtain emergency contraception pills without a prescription. Point-of-sale restrictions require that all women present identification to a pharmacist before obtaining the drug.

In his ruling, US district judge Edward Korman said the FDA’s rejection of requests to remove age restrictions was “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable”.

The Centre for Reproductive Rights and other groups had petitioned the FDA to lower age and access limits, saying there was no scientific proof that girls younger than 17 could not safely use the drug without supervision.