Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tobacco Companies Sue FDA Over Labeling Rule
The nation鈥檚 largest tobacco companies are suing the Food and Drug Administration over recent guidelines that they claim overstep the agency鈥檚 authority over packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Units of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Altria Group Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claiming the FDA鈥檚 guidance infringes on their commercial speech. (Perrone, 4/14)
The biggest U.S. tobacco companies on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration, challenging an alleged effort to assert authority over labels on tobacco products. Tobacco subsidiaries of Altria Group Inc., Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc. argue a recent FDA requirement violates free speech by requiring them to submit labels for approval. (Mickle, 4/14)