In a brief statement released on its website , the FDA said it would not appeal a judge's decision issued last month directing the agency to make emergency contraception available to 17-year-olds. The Food and Drug Administration said it will allow 17-year-olds to purchase the Plan B "morning after" pill over the counter. Until now, the contraceptive product € which prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex € was available only for those 18 and over who presented a valid ID to a pharmacist behind the counter. FDA Says 'Yes' to Plan B Morning-After Pill for 17-Year-Olds Well, it's official. Has the highest rate of teen pregnancy among the most developed countries in. "Today's announcement by the FDA is a strong statement to American women that their health comes before politics," says Nicol Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.

Younger teens needed a prescription to get access to it. Women's-health activists were cheered by the news.

But it also said the product won't become available to women of that age until the manufacturer of Plan B submits and receives approval for a labeling change € which could take some time.