Emergency contraception became available over the counter in Northern Ireland for the first time following a commercial application.
A previously secret state file on emergency contraception includes a briefing note, as the morning-after pill became available over the counter in 2001.
It said the move – which was legally challenged by anti-abortion campaigners – came following an application to the Medicines Control Agency to reclassify the drug to pharmacy availability for women aged 16 and over.
An amendment to the Prescriptions Only Medicine Order was laid before Parliament on December 11 2000 and became law on January 1 2001.
While the House of Lords held a debate on January 29 to have the legislation annulled, this was defeated by 177 votes to 95.
The briefing note added that the pill cost £20 to buy over the counter in the pharmacy but was available free of charge on prescription from GPs and family planning clinics.
“This change was not a ministerial initiative and was prompted by an application from the product licence holder for the medicine to be reclassified to pharmacy availability,” it read.
“The application followed an established process. Both the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Commission considered the safety and medical issues and advised in favour of this change.
“Wide public consultation took place last year, both here and throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
“All of the main medical and pharmaceutical bodies were in favour of pharmacy availability.”
The briefing note added: “The accepted legal and medical view is that emergency contraception is not a method of abortion.
“Emergency contraceptive pills work before implantation and so before a pregnancy has been established.”
