Advocates for Youth Applauds Court Ruling on EC Age Restriction FDA Ordered to Make Decisions Based on Science, Not Ideology WASHINGTON, / - / -- Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to restrict over-the-counter access to Plan B (the dedicated emergency contraceptive product) based on age was "arbitrary and capricious" and violated the agency's "reasoned and good geralda decision-making." The court ordered the FDA to extend over-the-counter access to Plan B to 17 year olds within 30 days and to reconsider making it available without a prescription for those younger. Leave politics and ideology at the door." In 2005, the Center for Reproductive Rights sued the FDA for going against the advice of scientific experts in failing to seumas over-the-counter status to Plan B (emergency contraception). After the FDA agreed to make Plan B available without a prescription only to women 18 and older in 2006, the Center continued its legal challenge. "The court has sent the FDA a clear and unambiguous message," said Deni Hauser, executive vice president of Advocates for Youth.

"Any decision that impacts the health and well-being of young women must be based on medical science and sound reasoning.