UK Dogs safe from German Proposals

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Sep 2000

German plans to class Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and other breeds of dog, as 'dangerous' within Germany, should have no effects elsewhere in the EU, according to lawyer and Euro-MP Diana Wallis.

Recently the German Government have made plans to destroy a number of breeds of dog that they classify as dangerous, but which the UK does not. There were rumours that this policy could be extended EU-wide, which have alarmed dog owners in the UK.

Diana Wallis MEP visited the Northern Region of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers Breeding Association on Friday to discuss the issue.

"In Britain we have adequate legislation in the form of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which is not breed-specific, but is about responsible dog ownership," said Diana Wallis.

"Obviously what the Germans do is up to them. This is an internal issue and each Member State can make its own rules.

"There is no legal basis on which EU-wide legislation will be made. Clearly there will be concerns with Britons living in Germany, and travelling through Germany and I will raise these concerns with EU Commissioner David Byrne this week."