The Obama administration has removed all age restrictions over the sales of the emergency contraceptive pill-Plan B One- Step and now it will be available to all consumers without a prescription.
In a letter to the federal court in New York, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Service said they had decided to remove the age barrier and sales restrictions pending approval by the U.S. District Judge Edward Korman, according to the Los Angeles Times.
An unidentified senior administration official told LA Times that President Obama had not yet changed his position regarding over-the-counter access to emergency contraceptives for young girls in the country.
However, following multiple setbacks in federal courts in recent months, the Justice Department decided to step back and allow all girls and women access to the emergency contraceptive.
Advocates of birth control in the country applauded the administration's decision and cheered it as a victory for the rights of women and a boon to public health.
"This is a huge breakthrough for access to birth control and a historic moment for women's health and equity," said President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cecile Richards, in a statement.
Richards said that the decision "will make emergency contraception available on store shelves, just like condoms, and women of all ages will be able to get it quickly in order to prevent unintended pregnancy."
The Food and Drug Administration said Monday evening that it had already asked the drug's manufacturer, Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products, to submit an application to make the emergency contraceptive Plan B available over the counter without any restrictions.
Plan B is classified by the Food and Drug Administration as an emergency contraceptive pill, which greatly reduces the risk of pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after sex.
