Units of Imperial Tobacco, Reynolds American and Altria filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration, saying reworked guidelines on changes to existing products that may require regulatory approval are too broad, Reuters said.

A Sept 8 guideline on changes that may require approval as a substantial equivalent tobacco product is at the heart of the dispute, according to Reuters. Tobacco companies say the September guideline is close to a March version that also was challenged, however the earlier suit was withdrawn after the regulatory agency said it would seek additional input, the news agency said.
Government regulators exceeded their authority under the 2009 Tobacco Control Act by stating changes to a product label or quantity may require regulatory approval, the suit filed in US District Court, Washington DC, reportedly says.