Demonstrators from women’s rights organizations gather near the U.S.-embassy in Brussels to protest the planned destruction of U.S.-purchased family planning supplies stockpiled in Belgium on September 18. Omar Havana/AP
As highlighted by CNN
Donald Trump’s administration keeps contraceptives worth about $9.7 million, purchased by the U.S., in Belgian warehouses instead of handing them over to countries abroad. Aid workers overnight express concern that the government may artificially slow shipments until the products expire.
CNN previously reported that undelivered contraceptives were intended for donor countries in Africa after USAID purchases under the Biden administration. They are now stored in Belgian warehouses as the U.S. trims its international health and family planning aid program.
In January the administration began the process of winding down the now-defunct USAID, which left a significant gap in international aid budgets for family planning, malaria control, HIV and child hunger.
The U.S. State Department previously stated a “preliminary decision” to destroy these contraceptives in Belgium at a cost of about $167,000 for incineration. However, the decision was blocked by regulatory requirements in Flanders, which prohibits burning reusable medical devices.
According to one aide to a U.S. congressman, most of the goods are long-acting contraceptives: copper IUDs, implants, injectable contraception, and pills of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. According to a list provided to CNN by two sources, nearly 5 million units are stored with such expiration dates.
Most products have expiration dates in 2028 or 2029; the earliest expires in April 2027. Since the plan’s public disclosure, aid workers have urged the government to transfer the goods to recipient countries or sell them to NGOs that could use them for women’s needs in Tanzania, Mali, Kenya and other countries.
International organizations’ involvement in procuring and distributing contraceptives had been in question as the U.S. declined offers to sell the supplies to UNFPA, IPPF, and MSI Reproductive Choices. Now agencies worry that authorities may hold stocks until expiration and readily destroy them under the pretext of regulatory compliance.
«Recipient countries, notably Tanzania (the main recipient), as well as others like Malawi, Bangladesh, the DRC, and Kenya, apply import rules that restrict the import of drugs with a certain remaining shelf life»
International regulatory hurdles and potential consequences
For example, in Tanzania, import of long-acting drugs is possible only if at least 60% of their shelf life remains. If no operational solution is found, the U.S. government could use a loophole allowing the goods to stay in warehouses until they technically no longer meet import requirements, after which destruction could be justified on the grounds of regulatory compliance, said Mr. van Valen.
The U.S. State Department did not respond to CNN’s requests regarding the administration’s intentions for these contraceptives.
«We urgently need these resources before they become unfit for import»
The issue of contraceptive access is compounded by the cuts to USAID’s family planning programs in Tanzania. According to Omari, after funding cuts some programs were reduced and health workers were withdrawn from communities. He warned that this could lead to a rise in unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
«Contraceptives save lives. Worldwide, more than 250 million women want to avoid pregnancy but do not have access to family planning»
UNFPA noted in August that they remained ready to purchase and distribute these supplies after Chemonics, the contractor for USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain Program, requested. However, Chemonics stopped responding to requests after several weeks of discussions. In a CNN comment, Chemonics said they had referred the request to USAID. UNFPA also emphasized that meeting this need could reduce maternal mortality by about 25%.
Health experts note that the question of whether some contraceptives are abortion-inducing remains politically sensitive in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists rejected the notion of an ‘abortive contraceptive’ and stressed that contraceptives prevent pregnancy, not its completion. A focus on IVGD and other forms of contraception does not cause abortions.
«There is no such thing as an abortive contraceptive»
Work to safeguard against burning contraceptives continues in Belgium, as well as efforts to pursue diplomatic channels to avoid regulatory breaches. UNFPA expressed willingness to purchase and distribute these supplies while negotiations continue, but Chemonics has not responded to requests since February, complicating supply.
«Contraceptives save lives. Worldwide, there are over 250 million women who want to avoid pregnancy but lack access to family planning»
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