An appeals court ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make certain forms of “morning-after” birth control pills available freely over the counter to anyone who wants to buy them.
In a three-paragraph order, a three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that although the government’s appeal of a lower court decision removing all age restrictions on morning-after pills is still pending, at least some medications must be made available over the counter immediately.
The court said the FDA could continue to restrict access to a newer, one-pill formulation called Plan B One-Step while the agency appeals a lower court ruling.
The ruling from the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals instructs the FDA to make available two-pill versions of emergency contraception drugs that contain levonorgestrel.
It is the latest in a series of rulings in a complex back-and-forth over access to the drug.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA