Editing Mifepristone (section)

====Other countries====
Mifepristone was banned in Australia in 1996. In 2005, a private member's bill was introduced to the Australian Senate to lift the ban and transfer the power of approval to the [[Therapeutic Goods Administration]] (TGA). The move caused much debate in the Australian media and among politicians. The bill passed the Senate in February 2006, and mifepristone is legal in Australia. It is provided regularly at several specialized abortion clinics per state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marie Stopes International Australia – Medical Abortion |year=2010 |access-date=15 December 2010 |url=http://www.mariestopes.org.au/our-services/women/abortion/medical-abortion |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122164158/http://www.mariestopes.org.au/our-services/women/abortion/medical-abortion |archive-date=22 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Abortion pill – RU486 (mifepristone) |publisher=Better Health Channel Victoria |date=July 2010 |access-date=15 December 2010 |url=http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/abortion_pill_ru486_%28mifepristone%29?open |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814183721/http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Abortion_pill_RU486_%28mifepristone%29?open |archive-date=14 August 2010 }}</ref> Mifepristone 200&nbsp;mg tablets have marketing authorizations in Australia from the TGA for early first trimester medication abortion when followed by the prostaglandin analog misoprostol through 63 days gestational age<ref name="Mifepristone Linepharma (MS-2 Step) PI 2014">{{cite web|author=MS Health|date=24 December 2014|title=Mifepristone Linepharma (MS-2 Step) 200 mg tablet product information|location=Symonston, Australian Capital Territory, Australia|publisher=Therapeutic Goods Administration|url=https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2014-PI-01965-1|access-date=4 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908184336/https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2014-PI-01965-1|archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> and second trimester medication abortion when followed by a prostaglandin analog.<ref name="Mifepristone Linepharma PI 2015">{{cite web|author=MS Health|date=12 May 2015|title=Mifepristone Linepharma 200 mg tablet product information|location=Symonston, Australian Capital Territory, Australia|publisher=Therapeutic Goods Administration|url=https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2012-PI-02513-1|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005923/https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2012-PI-02513-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Mifepristone (Mifepristone Linepharma) followed by misoprostol (GyMiso) for terminating early pregnancy | website=NPS MedicineWise | date=16 February 2015 | url=https://www.nps.org.au/news/mifepristone-mifepristone-linepharma-followed-by-misoprostol-gy-miso-for-terminating-early-pregnancy | access-date=5 September 2024}}</ref>

In New Zealand, pro-abortion rights doctors established an import company, Istar, and submitted a request for approval to [[Medsafe]], the New Zealand pharmaceutical regulatory agency. After a court case brought by Right to Life New Zealand failed, use of mifepristone was permitted.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sparrow MJ | title = A woman's choice | journal = The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology | volume = 44 | issue = 2 | pages = 88–92 | date = April 2004 | pmid = 15089829 | doi = 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2004.00190.x | s2cid = 27365359 }}</ref>

Mifepristone was approved in Israel in 1999.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Baulieu EE, Seidman DS, Hajri S | title = Mifepristone (RU486) and voluntary termination of pregnancy: enigmatic variations or anecdotal religion-based attitudes? | journal = Human Reproduction | volume = 16 | issue = 10 | pages = 2243–4 | date = October 2001 | pmid = 11574524 | doi = 10.1093/humrep/16.10.2243 | doi-access = free | title-link = doi }}</ref>

Clinical trials of mifepristone in China began in 1985. In October 1988, China became the first country in the world to approve mifepristone. Chinese organizations tried to purchase mifepristone from [[Roussel Uclaf]], which refused to sell it to them, so in 1992 China began its own domestic production of mifepristone. In 2000, the cost of medication abortion with mifepristone was higher than surgical abortion and the percentage of medication abortions varied greatly, ranging from 30% to 70% in cities to being almost nonexistent in rural areas.<!--
 --><ref name="ulmann">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ulmann A |year=2000 |title=The development of mifepristone: a pharmaceutical drama in three acts |journal=J Am Med Women's Assoc |volume=55 |issue=3 Suppl |pages=117–20 |pmid=10846319}}</ref><!--
 --><ref name="wu">{{cite journal | vauthors = Wu S |year=2000 |title=Medical abortion in China |journal=J Am Med Women's Assoc |volume=55 |issue=3 Suppl |pages=197–9, 204 |pmid=10846339}}</ref>
A report from the [[United States Embassy]] in Beijing in 2000 said mifepristone had been widely used in Chinese cities for about two years, and that according to press reports, a [[black market]] had developed with many women starting to buy it illegally (without a prescription) from private clinics and drugstores for about {{USD|15|2000}}, causing Chinese authorities to worry about medical complications from use without physician supervision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family planning in China: RU-486, abortion, and population trends |publisher=U.S. Embassy Beijing |year=2000 |access-date=14 September 2006 |url=http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/ru486.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020311164554/http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/ru486.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2002 }}</ref>

In 2001, mifepristone was approved in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Tsai EM, Yang CH, Lee JN |title=Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol: a clinical trial in Taiwanese women|journal=J Formos Med Assoc|year=2002|volume=101|issue=4|pmid=12101864|pages=277–82}}</ref> Vietnam included mifepristone in the National Reproductive Health program in 2002.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Ganatra B, Bygdeman M, Nguyen DV, Vu ML, Phan BT |title=From research to reality: the challenges of introducing medical abortion into service delivery in Vietnam|journal=Reprod Health Matters|year=2004|volume=12|issue=24|pages=105–13|pmid=15938163|doi=10.1016/S0968-8080(04)24022-8|s2cid=23303852}}</ref>

Mifepristone is approved in only one sub-Saharan African country—South Africa, where it was approved in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medical Abortion-Implications for Africa|publisher=[[Ipas (non-profit)|Ipas]]|year=2003|access-date=16 September 2006|url=http://www.ipas.org/publications/en/Medical_Abortion/med_ab_africa_web_only_en.pdf.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928082424/http://www.ipas.org/publications/en/Medical_Abortion/med_ab_africa_web_only_en.pdf.|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> It is also approved in one north African country—Tunisia, also in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors = Hajri S|title=Medication abortion: the Tunisian experience|journal=Afr J Reprod Health|year=2004|volume=8|issue=1|pmid=15487615|pages=63–9|doi=10.2307/3583307|jstor=3583307|hdl=1807/3883|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

Mifepristone was approved for use in India in 2002, where medication abortion is referred to as "medical termination of pregnancy". It is only available under medical supervision, not by prescription, due to adverse reactions such as excessive bleeding, and criminal penalties are given for buying or selling it on the black market or over-the-counter at pharmacies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mifepristone can be sold only to approved MTP Centres: Rajasthan State HRC|publisher=Indian Express Health Care Management|year=2000|url=http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20040515/oped01.shtml|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124021131/http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20040515/oped01.shtml|archive-date=24 January 2012}}</ref>

Medication induced abortion used to be available in Canada but on a limited basis using methotrexate and misoprostol. Clinical trials were done in 2000 in various Canadian cities comparing methotrexate to mifepristone, after approbation by the federal government. While both drugs had overall similar results, mifepristone was found to act faster.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cbctrust.com/ru486_trials_canada.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060621162826/http://www.cbctrust.com/ru486_trials_canada.php | archive-date = 21 June 2006 | title = Results of the Canadian trials of RU486, the 'Abortion Pill | access-date = 8 December 2006 }}</ref> Health Canada gave approval to mifepristone in July 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = RU-486 abortion pill approved by Health Canada|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ru-486-abortion-pill-approved-by-health-canada-1.3173515?cmp=rss|access-date = 30 July 2015|url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150731021931/http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ru-486-abortion-pill-approved-by-health-canada-1.3173515?cmp=rss |archive-date = 31 July 2015 }}</ref> Initially, its use was limited to seven weeks into a pregnancy, but this was changed to nine weeks in 2017. The previous requirement of written consent from the woman was also ended at the same time. It can be dispensed directly to a patient by a pharmacist or a prescribing health professional. Women are required to have an ultrasound to ensure the pregnancy is not [[ectopic pregnancy|ectopic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Health Canada eases restrictions on abortion pill Mifegymiso |work=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mifegymiso-abortion-pill-health-canada-1.4391267 |access-date=28 April 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508043809/http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mifegymiso-abortion-pill-health-canada-1.4391267 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mifepristone was registered for use in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan in 2002, in Guyana and Moldova in 2004, in Mongolia in 2005, and in Armenia in 2007.<ref name="Gynuity 2009"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Medication Abortion|publisher=Ibis|year=2002|access-date=19 September 2006|url=http://www.medicationabortion.com/mifepristone/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104040928/http://www.medicationabortion.com/mifepristone/index.html|archive-date=4 November 2006}}</ref>

Low dose mifepristone tablets for emergency contraception are available directly from a pharmacist without a prescription and with a prescription in China.<ref name="Trussell 2013">{{cite web |date=13 February 2013 |title=Dedicated emergency contraceptive pills worldwide |url=http://ec.princeton.edu/pills/Dedicated_ECPs.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190311/http://ec.princeton.edu/pills/Dedicated_ECPs.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |publisher=Office of Population Research, Princeton University |vauthors=Trussell J, Cleland K |location=Princeton}}</ref><ref name="ICEC 2013">{{cite web |author= |year=2016 |title=EC pill types and countries of availability, by brand |url=http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/ec-pill-types-and-countries-of-availability-by-brand/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405095026/http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/ec-pill-types-and-countries-of-availability-by-brand/ |archive-date=5 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |publisher=International Consortium for Emergency Contraception |location=New York}}</ref><ref name="Trussell 2016">{{cite web |date=March 2016 |title=Emergency Contraception: A Last Chance to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy |url=http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/ec-review.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923040101/http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/ec-review.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2010 |access-date=7 April 2016 |publisher=Office of Population Research, Princeton University |vauthors=Trussell J, Raymond E |location=Princeton}}</ref>

Low dose mifepristone tablets for emergency contraception are available by prescription in Armenia (Gynepriston), Russia (Agesta, Gynepriston, Mifepristone 72, Negele), Ukraine (Gynepriston), and Vietnam (Mifestad 10, Ciel EC).<ref name="Trussell 2013"/><ref name="ICEC 2013"/><ref name="Trussell 2016"/>