June 13, 2006 -- Former FDA Head Testifies on Plan B

The Associated Press reported today that the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is suing the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over delays in approving over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B, has released a statement made by former FDA commissioner Lester Crawford in which he takes responsibility for delaying a decision on the contraceptive while the agency looked for a way to restrict over-the-counter sales to women 17 years and older. In a sworn deposition in the lawsuit, Crawford acknowledged he "took over" the Plan B issue after an advisory panel to the FDA recommended unrestricted over-the-counter sales, but said that was just so he could "get straight what the enforcement procedures would be." Crawford also said he had thought that the process of deciding on enforcement would take "six to nine months tops" from last August and that he doesn't understand why the issue has not yet been resolved by the FDA. Crawford resigned as FDA commissioner in September last year, one month after announcing his decision to withhold approval of over-the-counter sales of Plan B. As of this month, the FDA has not yet announced a decision on the matter.