TIMELINE: Key dates in morning-after pill controversy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the wider sale of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc's morning-after contraceptive pill without a prescription to 17-year-olds.

The drug, called Plan B, helps prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. Barr was recently acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Following are some key dates in the drug's U.S. history:

*July 28, 1999 - The FDA approves Plan B as a prescription drug to prevent pregnancy.

*April 21, 2003 - Women's Capital Corp, which later sells Plan B to Barr, submits an application to the FDA seeking approval to sell the drug without a prescription, or "over the counter" to consumers of all ages.

*December 16, 2003 - An FDA panel of outside advisers overwhelmingly recommends the agency approve Plan B for nonprescription use, voting 23-4.

*May 6, 2004 - The FDA rejects wider sales of Plan B, citing concerns about use of the product by young girls. The agency suggests Barr provide data showing young girls can use the pill safely, or seek permission to sell the product without a prescription only to females age 16 and older.

*July 22, 2004 - Barr resubmits its application, this time asking to sell the drug over the counter to females 16 and older.

*April 6, 2005 - Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Patty Murray say they will block a Senate vote on U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee to head the FDA, acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, until a decision is made whether to approve nonprescription sales of Plan B.