Morning-after pill lawsuit dropped by federal government
5.8 million American women reported using an emergency contraception pill, like Plan B, between 2006 and 2010.
The Obama administration told a judge Monday it will drop plans to block over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill.
The move means Plan B will be available without a prescription to women and girls of all ages.
More from GlobalPost: Plan B morning-after pill to be sold over-the-counter
The feds filed a lawsuit after a federal judge in April ordered the US Food and Drug Administration to make emergency contraception available over the counter to anyone, regardless of age.
But in a letter to US Judge Edward R. Korman, the administration said late Monday it would submit a plan for compliance.
If Korman approves, the appeal by the Justice Department will be dropped.
More from GlobalPost: US government files appeal to delay unrestricted sales of morning-after pill
Women’s rights groups cautiously hailed the decision, but told The New York Times they remained skeptical until seeing details about how the change will be put into practice.
“We will not rest in this fight until the morning-after pill is made available without delay and obstruction,'’ said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a lawyer and the executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.