HL Deb 19 November 1998 vol 594 c194WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any vaccines or other medication containing genetically modified viruses or other organisms were administered to British troops prior to or during Operation Granby. [HL3861]

Lord Gilbert

A genetically modified organism can be defined as an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. This would include a genetically modified virus. MoD is not aware of any medicines, including vaccines, containing genetically modified organisms which were administered to UK troops prior to August 1991, when Operation Granby officially ended. In particular, none of the medical countermeasures used during the Gulf conflict to protect UK troops from Iraqi chemical and biological weapons contained genetically modified organisms.