#2026-422France sets rules for trial drone spraying of plant protection products
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This decree sets the conditions for trial programs using unmanned aircraft, such as drones, to apply plant protection products. It limits these trials to clearly defined crops or plots and excludes certain sensitive or already listed categories, including steep plots of 20% or more and some specific crops. The rules focus on controlled testing, not broad commercial use. Programs must show that drone application can generate new knowledge compared with ground application, especially on health and environmental benefits, spray quality, quantities used, and possible reductions. Only certain lower-risk products may be used, operators and pilots must hold the required professional certificate, drones must weigh no more than 200 kg, and equipment must use the best available technology to reduce spray drift.
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Key Changes
- Creates a legal framework for trial programs applying plant protection products by unmanned aircraft.
- Limits eligible trials to defined crops or plots and excludes steep land and certain listed crop types.
- Restricts products, operators, aircraft weight, certification, and drift-reduction technology for safety and environmental control.
Obligations
What this law requires
Trial programs for applying plant protection products by unmanned aircraft may only concern a clearly determined crop or plot type and must not concern cultivation units with slopes of 20% or more, banana plantations, ground-trained rootstock mother vines, or any other crop or plot types listed under Article L. 253-8.
Applicants must design the trial program so that its purpose and methodology can generate new knowledge comparing unmanned-aircraft application with ground application, including demonstrated human-health and environmental benefits, application quality, quantities applied, and possible quantity reductions.
The surface area covered by a trial program must not exceed the area necessary to evaluate the program results.
Only biocontrol plant protection products listed under the applicable French list, products authorized for organic agriculture, or low-risk products within the meaning of Article 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 may be proposed for application in the trial program.
Plant protection products proposed for drone application must have been approved for aerial spraying by unmanned aircraft under Article R. 253-46.