§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with CBD Porton Down the basis on which the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons lists EMPTA as a compound which also has commercial uses. [82946]
§ The Prime MinisterEMPTA is covered by Schedule 2 to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons oversees, not because it has commercial uses, but on the grounds that it belongs to a large family of chemicals that are of potential use as precursors in the production of266W Schedule 1 chemicals—those posing the highest risk—such as the nerve agent, VX.
I can also confirm that the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Potion Down is currently not aware of legitimate commercial uses for EMPTA.