§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the national rules of member states of the putative European union concerning the sale of firearms and other offensive weapons, including gases; and if he will state the number and title of any existing or forthcoming regulation or direction related thereto.
§ Mr. Charles WardleEuropean Community directive 91/477/EEC on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons was adopted in June 1991. The Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992 implemented provisions of the directive in Great Britain with effect from 1 January 1993.
The directive sets minimum standards which all member states must achieve in their domestic firearms controls including controls oil sales. Member states can have stricter controls than the minimum. The directive leaves it to member states to decide their own national controls on offensive weapons and gas spray devices. Full details of the extent to which other member states' controls exceed the directive's minimum requirements and of their controls on sales of other weapons have yet to be received.