FDA Ordered to Relax Age Rules on Morning-After Pill

A federal judge today ordered the Food and Drug Administration to immediately relax age restrictions on the morning-after contraception pill, and reconsider whether there should be any restrictions at all, the Washington Post reports. Since 2005, the pill has been available without a prescription only to women over 18; within 30 days, that age must be 17, the judge ordered.

The FDA’s “course of conduct regarding Plan B departed in significant ways from the agency’s normal procedures regarding similar applications to switch a drug from prescription to non-prescription use,” Judge Edward Korman  wrote. Noted a pleased activist: “It will finally be available to all women without any barriers.” (More FDA stories.)