Costco Confirms It Will Not Stock Mifepristone Abortion Pills

Retail giant Costco has decided against offering the abortion medication mifepristone at its pharmacies, according to a statement provided to CBS News.

The company cited a "lack of demand" for the prescription drug among its customers and patients as a key reason for its decision.

In a detailed statement, Costco elaborated that the medication is typically administered by healthcare professionals directly, rather than being obtained through pharmacy locations.

The announcement of Costco's stance was met with approval from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative group opposing abortion, which had previously lobbied the company to refrain from distributing mifepristone.

Michael Ross, legal counsel at ADF, commended Costco in a statement, highlighting that retailers like Costco benefit by focusing on family-centered products rather than controversial medications, thereby potentially avoiding any adverse impacts on their business.

Mifepristone, authorized by the FDA two decades ago, is used alongside misoprostol to medically terminate pregnancies up until 10 weeks. This two-drug protocol accounts for the majority of abortion procedures in the United States, as per data from the Guttmacher Institute.