Supreme Court Declines to Hear Tobacco Industry Appeal on Graphic Warning Labels

The ruling leaves in place FDA regulations requiring cigarette packs and ads to display graphic health warnings about smoking risks.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies challenging FDA-mandated graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging and advertisements.
The FDA's 2020 rule requires warnings to cover 50% of cigarette packs and 20% of advertisements, featuring images such as diseased lungs and cancerous growths alongside health warnings.
Tobacco companies argued the warnings violated First Amendment rights by compelling speech and exaggerated smoking risks, but the FDA maintained they are factual and necessary to inform the public.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the FDA's rule earlier this year, finding the warnings to be factual, uncontroversial, and justified by public health interests.
While the regulation remains technically in effect, the FDA has delayed enforcement until at least December 2025 due to ongoing legal challenges.