Germany has delayed signing the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) following concerns from its justice ministry.

A foreign ministry spokesperson revealed that the nation's authorities requested more time for "further discussions" on the controversial anti-piracy treaty, AFP reports.

ACTA, which aims to establish international standards on intellectual property rights enforcement, was signed last month by 22 EU member states, including the UK.

The move coincided with the resignation of its rapporteur Kader Arif, who claimed that the agreement "lacked transparency".

Last week, Latvia delayed putting its signature to the legislation. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have also delayed ratification.

ACTA has sparked international protests, with critics warning that it could impinge on civil and digital rights, such as freedom of expression and communication privacy.

Official websites supporting the international agreement have been hit by cyber-attacks from individuals allegedly acting on behalf of Anonymous.

The European Parliament is yet to ratify the ACTA treaty, and is due to hold a debate on the matter in June.

Source: Digital SPy