181. Memorandum From Michael Guhin of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2
Washington, February 4, 1970
SUBJECT:
- Commercial Toxin Production in the U.S.
Pursuant to your request of Dr. McRae (OST), at the Review Group meeting on the toxins paper (January 29), he has forwarded a CIA report (Tab A) on “Toxin Production in the U.S.” The report does not consider the status of toxin production in the military. The main points of the report are:
- 1.
- Contrary to the understanding expressed at the meeting, the CIA knows of no commercial production of toxic flechettes or bullets other than those specifically contracted for by the military. Veterinarians do not use lethal flechettes or poisoned bullets. They use chemicals for sedation or anesthesia, not bacterial toxins.
- 2.
- There are a significant number of commercial plants that could be converted to the production of bacterial toxins. The facilities are adequate for production, but production expertise for highly toxic material exists only in a very few people, mostly within Government organizations.
- 3.
- Twelve U.S. companies are licensed to produce toxins. These companies either sell antitoxins (toxoids) or make them for their own use. Few of these companies appear to be manufacturing toxins at the present time.
- 4.
- However, two companies specifically produce botulinum toxin in order to obtain botulinum toxoid.
- 5.
- Bacterial toxins of various kinds can be produced in a large number of laboratories in quantities adequate for research.
A list of the attachments at Tabs is attached to this memorandum.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Chemical, Biological Warfare (Toxins, etc.) Vol. I. Secret. Sent for information. Sent through Behr (NSC). None of the attachments are published↩
- The memorandum lists the main points of a CIA report on commercial toxin production in the U.S.↩