] Subj: Philip Morris to challenge Massachusetts law

Source: Reuter

Philip Morris to challenge Massachusetts law

BOSTON (Reuter) Philip Morris Cos Inc. said Wednesday that
tobacco companies will pursue a challenge of a Massachusetts law
that would require them to disclose specific ingredients used in
cigarettes.
The company said a challenge would be pursued despite a
ruling by a threejudge federal appeals court panel upholding
the constitutionality of the law.
``The decision does not resolve all the issues in the
case,'' Henry Dinger, an attorney representing one of the
cigarette manufacturers, said in a news release. ``The only
issue the court of appeals decided was that the Federal
Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act does not preempt the
ingredient disclosure law.
``The court expressly left open a challenge to the
ingredient disclosure law based on the law's likely destruction
of the manufacturers' valuable ingredient trade secrets. The
companies intend to pursue that avenue vigorously.''
Philip Morris said the industry believes the law would
require that companies divulge trade secrets.
The companies are exploring all of their legal options in
light of the appellate court's decision and have not decided
whether to seek further review of the court's Monday ruling, the
company said.
^REUTER@