Court strikes tobacco labels
WASHINGTON, DC: A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the U.S government cannot mandate cigarette companies to promote nor provide such labels as seen above.
The appeals court majorly ruled that such regulations were a violation of free speech rights:
“The First Amendment requires the government not only to state a substantial interest justifying a regulation on commercial speech, but also to show that its regulation directly advances that goal,” wrote Judge Janice Rogers Brown. “FDA failed to present any data — much less the substantial evidence required under the federal law — showing that enacting their proposed graphic warnings will accomplish the agency’s stated objective of reducing smoking rates. The rule thus cannot pass muster”
Related articles
- Court strikes tobacco warning labels (cnn.com)
- D.C. Circuit: Cigarette Graphic Warning Labels Violate First Amendment (legaltimes.typepad.com)
- Appeals Court Finds USFDA Rule for Graphic Tobacco Warnings Violates Free Speech (jdjournal.com)
- Federal appeals court strikes down FDA tobacco warning label law (fox6now.com)
- Federal appeals court strikes down FDA tobacco warning label law (wtvr.com)
- Court Blocks Graphic Warnings On Cigarettes (news92fm.com)
