Kretek International Inc., importer and distributor of Djarum clove cigars, today filed a request for declaratory judgment against the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in Federal District Court in Washington, DC. The Kretek filing comes after the FDA signaled its intention to exceed its legislative authority to regulate flavored cigarettes in order to ban other tobacco products as well. Beginning Sept. 22, 2009 a new FDA law prohibits cigarettes with a characterizing flavor other than tobacco or menthol, but cigars are not covered by the FDA's new authority. The purpose of Kretek's action is to prevent the FDA from moving against Kretek's Djarum cigar products.