Britain’s department of health said today it "fully supported" supermarket chain Sainsbury's involvement in a scheme to give free morning-after pills to under 16-year-olds.
Sainsbury's is offering emergency contraception from pharmacies in five stores in areas with high teenage pregnancy rates.
Pro-life campaigners have criticised the move and called on supporters to boycott the supermarket.
The pilot scheme, through Sainsbury's in-store pharmacies in Cardiff and Bridgend in South Wales, Fallowfield and Sale in Greater Manchester, and Bristol, is part of a wider government initiative.
Emergency contraception is being offered at pharmacies in every region as part of a programme to reduce Britain's teenage pregnancy rate, the highest in western Europe.
Rival supermarket chain Tesco announced last month it had decided not to dispense the morning-after pill to under 16-year-olds from in-store pharmacies after concern from customers.