§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which headings of the export control order and the standard industrial trade classification cover(a) protective clothing for use against toxic chemical gas whether in an industrial or military setting and (b) equipment for the detection of toxic gas, and decontamination equipment for toxic gas; and in which years these products become licensable exports. [5476]
§ Mr. OppenheimProtective clothing for defence against chemical warfare agents and equipment for the detection of them are controlled in entry ML7 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order (EG(C)0) 1994. This entry has been in force since at least 1978, but to go back further would incur disproportionate cost. Industrial equipment for detecting toxic gas is covered in entry 2B351, which came into force on 31 December 1992 under the EG(C)0 1992. Since 1 July 1995, the control exists through the Dual Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations 1995. In addition, the "End Use" control applies to otherwise unlicensable goods where chemical weapons use is known or suspected. Under the standard industrial trade classification the categorisation system is too broad to positively identify the type of equipment in this enquiry.