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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quality control was conducted on the organophosphate pesticides purchased by his Department to combat fly-borne diseases in the Gulf war; and what post-war assessment has been made on the effect on the local environment in Kuwait and southern Iraq of the use of pesticides during Operation Granby. [40738] Mr. Soames: The organophosphate pesticides, malathion and fenitrothion, were approved for use at the time of Operation Granby under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. Alfacon, containing the organophosphate azamathiphos, and purchased locally in the Gulf, was also approved for use under these regulations. SNIP, a similar product purchased locally containing azamathiphos, was licensed for use in the United States, but it is understood that no application has been made for approval in the UK. A further organophosphate pesticide purchased locally, neocidal, is understood to have been supplied in error in response to an order for a non-organophosphate pesticide. My Department is not aware of any post-war assessment of the effect of the use of pesticides on the local environment in Kuwait and southern Iraq during Operation Granby.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

40738; 282 c924W;282 c922W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Armed forces Armed conflict Chemical weapons Casualties Environment protection Iraq-Kuwait conflict Kuwait Medicine Research Gulf War syndrome Organophosphates