Regulations by country

Agricultural drones sit at the crossing of two rule books: aviation (who may fly a heavy drone, where and how) and plant protection (which products may be applied from the air). Below is a summary checked on 11 October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice; rules change, so confirm with your authority before buying.

The buyer is responsible for registering the drone, holding the operator authorisation and pilot competence, and holding any permit to apply plant protection products. We sell the equipment only and do not provide spraying services.

European Union (all member states)

Aerial pesticide application banned by default

Flying: EU drone rules (Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945, EASA). Spray drones are far above 25 kg and carry dangerous goods, so they fly in the specific category: the operator needs an operational authorisation from the national aviation authority, usually based on a SORA risk assessment or a national standard scenario, plus operator registration and remote pilot competence. Some states also require a certified (C-class or design verified) aircraft.

Spraying: Directive 2009/128/EC (Sustainable Use of Pesticides), Article 9, prohibits aerial spraying of plant protection products. Member states may grant derogations only case by case: an approved product specifically authorised for aerial use, a certified operator, a published application plan and buffer zones. In December 2025 the European Commission proposed (COM(2025) 1021, food and feed safety omnibus) to ease the rules for certain drones; this is a proposal, not law, and needs a later delegated act. Fertiliser, seed and biocontrol spreading and non pesticide uses are generally not covered by the ban but still need the aviation authorisation.

Germany

Steep slope vineyards only

Flying: LBA operational authorisation (specific category).

Spraying: Plant Protection Act section 18: drone spraying allowed only with plant protection products approved by BVL for unmanned aircraft (published list), mainly fungicides in steep slope vineyards (at least 30% slope), plus a regional application permit from the state authority.

France

Limited derogation since 2025

Flying: DGAC authorisation (specific category, national scenario or SORA).

Spraying: Law of 2025 allows drones for listed low risk, organic or biocontrol products on slopes of 20% or more, in banana plantations and in rootstock vineyards, plus time limited trials (up to 3 years). All other aerial spraying stays banned.

Belgium

No routine derogation

Flying: Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (DGLV / BCAA) operational authorisation.

Spraying: Aerial application of plant protection products is prohibited under the federal and regional transpositions of Directive 2009/128/EC. Exceptional derogations only; check with FPS Health (Phytoweb) and your region before buying for spraying.

Netherlands

Exemption required

Flying: ILT operational authorisation (specific category).

Spraying: Aerial spraying is banned except under an individual exemption; trials have been run under exemption. Check with Ctgb and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Spain, Italy, Portugal

Case by case derogation

Flying: AESA (ES), ENAC (IT), ANAC (PT) specific category authorisation.

Spraying: National plans allow exceptional aerial application with authorised products, a prior request to the regional authority and certified operators. Several regions run drone pilots in vineyards, rice and olives under derogation.

United Kingdom

HSE permission required

Flying: CAA: specific category Operational Authorisation (PDRA or SORA based); heavy spray drones usually need a full operating safety case.

Spraying: HSE treats drone spraying as aerial application: only pesticides approved for aerial use, an HSE aerial application permit, notifications to neighbours and the operator's qualifications. Approvals for drone use are still very limited.

Switzerland

Allowed with approval

Flying: FOCA authorisation (SORA).

Spraying: Drone spraying with approved products is allowed in vineyards and other crops with FOCA approval of the operator and federal approval of the spraying drone type. A well established use case in steep vineyards.

United States

FCC: no new DJI modelsFederal + state licences

Flying: FAA Part 137 agricultural aircraft operator certificate plus Part 107 remote pilot certificate; drones of 55 lb or more also need a 49 U.S.C. 44807 exemption (and often Part 107 waivers for night, swarm or beyond visual line of sight).

Spraying: Every product must be used according to its EPA label (aerial application must be permitted on the label) and the applicator needs a state pesticide applicator licence (aerial category). Import note: since 22 December 2025 the FCC no longer authorises new foreign made drone models; previously authorised models (including Agras T50, T25 and T100) remain legal, but a proposal to restrict existing spray drones is pending and DJI shipments have been held by CBP. High tariffs apply to drones from China. We do not sell to the US online.

Canada

SFOC for heavy drones

Flying: Transport Canada: drones over 25 kg need a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) and an advanced pilot certificate.

Spraying: Only products whose PMRA label allows aerial application by drone; provincial applicator licence required.

Australia

CASA + APVMA

Flying: CASA: drones over 25 kg need a Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC) and a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) for the weight class; aerial application endorsement as applicable.

Spraying: APVMA label must permit aerial application (or a permit is needed); state chemical licences such as an aerial distribution licence (for example NSW EPA, QLD, VIC) apply.

New Zealand

CAA Part 102

Flying: CAA Part 102 certificate for heavy drones; Part 137 agricultural aircraft rules.

Spraying: Products used per label; GROWSAFE / regional council rules on spray drift and notification.

Brazil

MAPA + ANAC + ANATEL

Flying: ANAC RBAC-E 94 registration and authorisation, DECEA airspace access (SARPAS), ANATEL homologation of the radio equipment.

Spraying: MAPA Ordinance 298/2021: operator registration with MAPA, an agronomist responsible, trained pilots (CAAR course) and products used per label.

South Africa

SACAA ROC

Flying: SACAA Remote Operator Certificate (ROC) and pilot licence under Part 101.

Spraying: Act 36 of 1947: products registered for aerial application; registered pest control operator.

India

DGCA type certificate

Flying: Drone Rules 2021: drone type certificate, unique ID on Digital Sky, remote pilot certificate.

Spraying: Interim SOP for drone application of pesticides (CIB&RC approved products and doses).

Sanctioned destinations

We do not ship

Flying: No sales or deliveries to Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Syria or Cuba (EU sanctions; drones and their parts are restricted exports under Regulation (EU) 833/2014 and 765/2006).

Brand, export and import restrictions

DJI agricultural drones are region locked: China domestic units will not activate abroad. We only supply international or EU version stock with a serial you can register in your region.
United States: no new DJI models can receive FCC authorisation since 22 December 2025; existing authorised models remain legal. A further restriction on existing spray drones has been proposed. US customs has detained DJI shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. We therefore do not deliver drones to the US.
DJI and XAG sell agricultural drones through authorised dealers; warranty and DJI Agriculture service in your country may depend on buying from the local network. Ask us before ordering if local dealer warranty matters to you.
Lithium flight batteries ship as dangerous goods (UN3480, class 9) and may be refused by some couriers for remote destinations.
Drones and their components are dual use sensitive goods for some destinations; we screen every order against EU sanctions lists.