Three largest US tobacco companies filed lawsuit claiming that the US Food and Drug Administration is going beyond its authority limit by keeping a close tab on the content of their product labels.

But on Tuesday, Altria Group Inc, Reynolds American Inc and Lorillard Inc have dropped their cases after the agency said that it would reconsider its rules.

On May 29, the FDA said that it will review whether or not it is a compulsion for tobacco companies for taking prior approval for label alterations, including changes to logos and background colors.

The lawsuit was filed in April in federal court in Washington, D. C. In the lawsuit, the companies stated that the 2009 Tobacco Control Act limited FDA authority to pre-approve label changes to two 'narrow' circumstances-

" Products claiming to reduce risks associated with tobacco.

" When prior approval is required by regulation.

By expanding its close monitoring window, the FDA has violated the tobacco companies' commercial speech rights under the First Amendment. Lately, the FDA has announced that the interim policy would remain active and also, the agency will require whether or not to adopt new label approval procedures.

After the lawsuit was withdrawn, Altria spokesman Brian May said, "There is no need to move forward with the lawsuit at this time".

In 2009, US President Barack Obama enacted a law giving the government control over the production, sale and advertising of tobacco.