Today, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would delay making a decision about Plan B, the emergency contraceptive commonly known as the morning-after pill, and seek public opinion about issues related to over-the-counter approval of the product. The agency was expected to decide to make the drug available without a prescription to women 17 and older by September 1. Nancy Northup, President of the Center for Reproductive Rights, issued this statement in response:

“Here we are days before the Supreme Court confirmation hearings-a possible turning point in reproductive privacy and decision-making-and this administration has once again willfully chosen to place a choke-hold on women’s access to sensible and safe reproductive health care.

It is unconscionable that the FDA has resorted to yet another stalling tactic to avoid making Plan B available without a prescription. The agency unabashedly continues to turn its back on its responsibilities by holding Plan B to a different and higher standard than other over-the-counter contraceptives.”

Learn more about the Center’s work to support emergency contraception.