Five U.S. tobacco firms filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arguing that government-mandated graphic warnings on cigarette packages unconstitutionally infringe on the companies' rights.

Lorillard, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Commonwealth Brands, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco and Liggett Group on Tuesday requested an injunction in federal court to delay the rule's implementation. They called the new graphic health warnings an unconstitutional way of forcing tobacco firms to spread the government's anti-smoking message.
“The regulations violate the First Amendment [Freedom of Speech],” Floyd Abrams, a lawyer representing Lorillard, said in the statement. “The notion that the government can require those who manufacture a lawful product to emblazon half of its package with pictures and words admittedly drafted to persuade the public not to purchase that product cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny.” 
Abrams said the tobacco companies would not have a problem with the written wording required by the latest FDA ruling, but that putting photographs of diseased people on every cigarette pack would ask people to stop smoking. "It's the direct advocacy to not buy the product, as opposed to a straightforward warning," he said. 
Under recently announced FDA regulations, cigarette packs, cartons and all cigarette advertising must display graphic warnings by 22 September 2012.
The new health warnings would be accompanied by pictures of rotting teeth or damaged lungs to deter smokers and would occupy the top 50 per cent of the front and rear panels of cigarette packs sold in the United States and the top 20 per cent of cigarette advertisements. (pi)