Austria relaxes law on 'morning-after' pill

(AFP PHOTO/HO)

The so-called 'morning-after' pill became available in Austria without prescription for the first time, the country's health ministry said in a statement.

The contraceptive, which can be used up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse, will now be sold in pharmacies to women of all ages, the ministry said.

Previous efforts to relax the law were blocked by Austria's former health minister and Christian Democrat Maria Rauch-Kallat. Her Social Democrat successor Alois Stoeger made it one of his priorities on taking office.

The 'morning-after' pill is already widely on sale without prescription in the majority of European Union countries. Spain introduced a similar measure in September.

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