# Agricultural drone spraying rules in China

> What you need to spray crops with a drone in China: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.

- Canonical URL: https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/china
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-09-18
- Path: Home › Drone spraying rules by country › Agricultural drone spraying rules in China
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## Legal status

**Allowed with authorisation.** Agricultural drones up to 150 kg take-off weight may spray over farmland in open (non-controlled) airspace without an operating certificate, a CAAC pilot licence or a flight application, under the Interim Regulations on UAV Flight Management in force since 1 January 2024. The pilot needs an operation certificate issued by the drone manufacturer, and pesticides must be used as their label states.

## Who regulates it

- **Aviation:** [Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)](https://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/FLFG/202401/t20240115_222642.html)
- **Agriculture:** [Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)](https://njhs.moa.gov.cn/tzggjzcjd/202502/t20250210_6469819.htm)
- **Agriculture:** [Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals (pesticide registrations) (ICAMA)](http://www.chinapesticide.org.cn/)

## Legal basis

- [《无人驾驶航空器飞行管理暂行条例》（国务院、中央军委令第761号，2024年1月1日施行）](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202306/content_6888799.htm): National UAV regulation: real-name registration, operating certificates, pilot licences, airspace and flight applications, with exemptions for conventional agricultural drone operations.
- [《民用无人驾驶航空器运行安全管理规则》（CCAR-92，交通运输部令2024年第1号）](https://xxgk.mot.gov.cn/2020/jigou/fgs/202401/t20240103_3980642.html): CAAC operating rules: real-name registration on the CAAC UAV management platform, pilot licensing, operations.
- [《农用无人驾驶航空器操控员培训管理规定（试行）》（民航综飞发〔2025〕1号，2025年1月23日施行）](https://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/GFXWJ/202502/t20250207_226616.html): Training and testing of agricultural drone pilots by manufacturers; three exam subjects; operation certificate valid indefinitely.
- [《农药管理条例》第三十四条至第三十六条](https://fgs.moa.gov.cn/flfg/202312/t20231205_6442161.htm): Pesticide users must follow the label's scope, method, dose and precautions; no use in drinking-water source protection zones; use records.

## What you need

- Register the drone under your real name on the CAAC UAV management platform before activating it (Regulations art. 10; CCAR-92 §92.205). ([xxgk.mot.gov.cn](https://xxgk.mot.gov.cn/2020/jigou/fgs/202401/t20240103_3980642.html))
- The pilot must pass the manufacturer's training and exams (theory, basic flying, field work; 80/100 to pass each) and hold the agricultural drone operation certificate (Regulations art. 16). ([caac.gov.cn](https://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/GFXWJ/202502/t20250207_226616.html))
- Take out liability insurance for commercial flights and for any small, medium or large drone (Regulations art. 12). ([gov.cn](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202306/content_6888799.htm))
- Medium drones (over 25 kg up to 150 kg take-off weight) require CAAC airworthiness approval (Regulations art. 8). ([caac.gov.cn](https://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/GFXWJ/202408/t20240807_224974.html))
- Use pesticides strictly according to the label, without widening the scope, raising the dose or changing the method (Pesticide Regulations art. 34). ([fgs.moa.gov.cn](https://fgs.moa.gov.cn/flfg/202312/t20231205_6442161.htm))
- Professional pest-control service organisations and cooperatives must keep pesticide use records for at least 2 years (art. 36). ([fgs.moa.gov.cn](https://fgs.moa.gov.cn/flfg/202312/t20231205_6442161.htm))

## How to get authorised

1. Buy the drone and complete real-name registration. ([xxgk.mot.gov.cn](https://xxgk.mot.gov.cn/2020/jigou/fgs/202401/t20240103_3980642.html))
2. Complete the manufacturer's training and obtain the operation certificate. ([caac.gov.cn](https://www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/GFXWJ/202502/t20250207_226616.html))
3. Arrange liability insurance. ([gov.cn](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202306/content_6888799.htm))
4. Check that the field is in open airspace; in controlled airspace, submit a flight activity application by 12:00 the day before (art. 26). ([gov.cn](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202306/content_6888799.htm))
5. Check the pesticide label and registration, then spray following the label. ([chinapesticide.org.cn](http://www.chinapesticide.org.cn/))

## Operating limits for spraying

- The exemptions apply only to agricultural drones with a maximum height of 30 m above ground, speed of 50 km/h and radius of 2,000 m, with airspace-keeping and surveillance capability, up to 150 kg, over farm, forest, livestock or fishery areas in open airspace (Regulations art. 11 and art. 62).
- Airspace above 120 m, around airports, military sites, borders and other sensitive areas is controlled and needs approval (art. 19).
- Pesticides must not be used in drinking-water source protection zones (Pesticide Regulations art. 35).

## Good to know

- Spraying without the operation certificate: the county agriculture department orders the work to stop and fines CNY 1,000 to 10,000 (art. 50).
- Operation certificates issued before 23 January 2025 remain valid.

> Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.

## Other countries

- [Australia](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/australia)
- [Brazil](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/brazil)
- [Canada](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/canada)
- [France](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/france)
- [Germany](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/germany)
- [Greece](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/greece)
- [Indonesia](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/indonesia)
- [Italy](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/italy)
- [Japan](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/japan)
- [Netherlands](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/netherlands)
- [Portugal](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/portugal)
- [South Korea](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/south-korea)
- [Spain](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/spain)
- [Switzerland](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/switzerland)
- [Taiwan](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/taiwan)
- [Turkey](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/turkey)
- [United Kingdom](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/united-kingdom)
- [United States](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/united-states)
- [Uruguay](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/uruguay)

## Check the spray window before you go to the field

PulveCast gives a green, yellow or red verdict for every hour from Delta T, humidity, wind, gusts, drift risk and thermal inversion. Free on Android and iOS, no account needed.

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