The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. announced on Tuesday that retail pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens, may now offer abortion pills in-store or by mail.

"Mifeprex (mifeprestone) and its generic Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, are available under a single, shared system risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), known as the Mifepristone REMS Program, which sets forth the requirements that must be followed for mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy through ten weeks gestation," the FDA said. "Under the Mifepristone REMS Program, mifepristone may be dispensed in-person or by mail."

Mifeprex was previously only available through clinics, doctors, and mail-order pharmacies, the Daily Wire reports.

"The FDA does not have regulatory oversight of prescription medicines from outside the legitimate U.S. drug supply chain; therefore, the FDA cannot ensure the safety, effectiveness, or quality of those medications."

Spokespersons from CVS and Walgreens reacted to the FDA's announcement.

CVS Spokesperson Amy Thibault: "We're reviewing the FDA's updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program for mifepristone to determine the requirements to dispense in states that do not restrict the dispensing of medications prescribed for elective termination of pregnancy."

Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman: "[W]e look forward to reviewing the FDA's announcement and Mifepristone REMS program, and we will continue to enable our pharmacists to dispense medications consistent with federal and state law."

Abortion pills accounted for 53 percent of abortions in the U.S. in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute.