Trade Resources Policy & Opinion Three Major Tobacco Companies in The Us Have Dropped Their Lawsuit Against The FDA

Three Major Tobacco Companies in The Us Have Dropped Their Lawsuit Against The FDA

Tags: Tobacco, Policy, FDA

Three major tobacco companies in the US have dropped their lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over pre-approval for modifications in labelling.

The FDA has previously regulated that the tobacco companies required to take its approval for any changes that they intend to make in packaging, such as changing the color, or including descriptive words 'premium tobacco'.

The three companies, Altria Group's Philip Morris USA, Reynolds American and Lorillard, have argued that the FDA is overstepping its jurisdiction over product labelling.

The requirement would be a deviation from the commercial speech rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

However, they have decided to drop the suit after the US regulatory body agreed to review its decision last week.

The tobacco firms' product line includes Marlboro, Camel and Newport cigarattes.

In 2009, the US Government enforced a law to regulate production, sale and advertising of tobacco.

Philip Morris International (PMI) is fighting a similar battle in the UK as well.

The company, along with British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International (JTI), has have filed lawsuit against the UK Government's bid to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

Seeking a multi-billion payout for what they claim to be a breach of trademark law, they have challenged the government's mandate to introduce standardized, unbranded packaging for cigarettes effective May 2017. 

Source: http://www.packaging-business-review.com/news/three-largest-tobacco-firms-drop-lawsuit-against-fda-in-us-030615-4591861
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Three Tobacco Companies Drop Lawsuit Against FDA in US