LONDON - Four tobacco firms have decided not to pursue a legal challenge to a tobacco display ban after the British government announced it would put off implementation and change some plans, Reuters reports. The British Health Department released its guidelines in late December.

British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris had requested a judicial review because of the significant changes the government made that would reduce the burden on small shops. Large retailers will have to comply with the display ban on April 6, while smaller shops have until April 2015.

Japan Tobacco withdrew its opposition after the health department decided not to finalize the rules until March, which would mean the High Court would have little time to review the case. "The delays experienced in the English display ban regulations being put in place mean that we have been left with no other alternative but to discontinue this challenge," said Martin Southgate, Japan Tobacco UK managing director.

BAT said that the changes made to the display ban were enough to lower the burden small retailers would have faced under the ban. The company will focus its attention instead on helping shops comply with the ban.