Durbin: Justice Department Should Move Quickly to Appeal US District Court Ruling on Cigarette Warning Labels

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Department of Justice to quickly appeal a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today that new, graphic labels on cigarette packages and advertisements are unconstitutional.

“The FDA’s graphic warning labels will show consumers the dangers of tobacco use and allow them to make informed choices about their health,” said Durbin. “Continuing to hide the damaging effects of cigarette smoking behind creative packaging and slick marketing campaigns is a disservice to the public. Today’s disappointing court ruling jeopardizes critical efforts to educate the public about the horrors of smoking and protect public health. The administration should move quickly to appeal it.”

Last year, Durbin joined five Senate colleagues calling on the Department of Justice to appeal a preliminary injunction by the U.S. District Court that halted the implementation of the FDA’s new graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. The nine warning labels chosen were scheduled for use on all cigarette packages and advertisements, and were set to take effect in September 2012.