#AGRG2612855AFrance sets application rules for drone pesticide trial programs
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This order sets the information that agricultural technical institutes must provide when applying to run trial programs for applying plant protection products by unmanned aircraft, such as drones. Applicants must identify the responsible people, treated crops and plots, planned schedule, products used, operator certifications, aircraft details, drift-reduction measures, and aviation authorization. It also sets the basic methodology for these trials. Programs must be designed to compare drone spraying with ground spraying, measure spray quality and exposure risks for people and the environment, document preliminary adjustment tests, track weather and sampling methods, and include raw trial data in the final report.
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Key Changes
- Creates a required application file for drone-based pesticide trial programs, using the government digital procedure platform.
- Requires detailed information on plots, products, operators, aircraft, certifications, drift controls, and aviation authorization.
- Sets trial methodology rules so drone spraying can be compared with ground spraying on spray quality and exposure risks.
Obligations
What this law requires
An agricultural technical institute seeking authorization for an experimental plant-protection-product application program by unmanned aircraft must submit the completed official application form available on the government “Démarche numérique” website.
The authorization application must identify the applicant institute, the person responsible for the program, and the decision-makers for the use of the plant protection products on whose behalf the applications are carried out.
The authorization application must specify the target crop, planned program duration, municipalities and cadastral references or GPS coordinates of the plots to be treated, and justification that the plots meet the eligibility conditions under Article D. 253-45-4 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
The authorization application must provide the planned application schedule, including periods, number of applications, and frequency, and identify the plant protection products to be used.
The authorization application must include the required individual certificates for operators and remote pilots under Article L. 254-3 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, and any required service-provider approval under Article L. 254-1 where applicable.