# Agricultural drone spraying rules in Germany

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

- Canonical URL: https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/germany
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-09-18
- Path: Home › Drone spraying rules by country › Agricultural drone spraying rules in Germany
- Site guide for agents: https://pulvecast.com/llms.txt

## Legal status

**Restricted or by exception.** Restricted. Applying plant protection products from aircraft, drones included, is banned without a permit (PflSchG §18). The state authority can grant permits only for steep-slope vineyards and forest canopies. For drones, BVL approvals so far cover fungicides in steep-slope vineyards, sprayed with drones on the JKI list.

## Who regulates it

- **Agriculture:** [Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)](https://www.bvl.bund.de/SharedDocs/Fachmeldungen/04_pflanzenschutzmittel/2025/2025_03_17_Fa_Genehm_PSM_fuer_AW_Drohnen_in_Weinbau_Steillage.html)
- **Other:** [Julius Kühn Institute (list of tested drone sprayers) (JKI)](https://daps.julius-kuehn.de/drohnen/suche)
- **Agriculture:** [State plant protection service (example: Regierungspräsidien Baden-Württemberg) (Pflanzenschutzdienst)](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Antragstellung_Drohneneinsatz__PSM_.pdf)
- **Aviation:** [Federal Aviation Office / state aviation authority (LBA)](https://www.lba.de/DE/Drohnen/Betriebsgenehmigungen/Betriebsgenehmigungen_node.html)

## Legal basis

- [Pflanzenschutzgesetz (PflSchG) § 18](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflschg_2012/__18.html): Bans applying plant protection products with aircraft without a permit. Permits only for steep-slope vineyards and forest canopies, and only for products authorised or approved by BVL for aerial use.
- [BVL application provision NZ184 (Fachmeldung, 17 March 2025)](https://www.bvl.bund.de/SharedDocs/Fachmeldungen/04_pflanzenschutzmittel/2025/2025_03_17_Fa_Genehm_PSM_fuer_AW_Drohnen_in_Weinbau_Steillage.html): Drone approvals for fungicides in steep-slope vineyards: only drones with sprayers on the JKI list may be used, following the conditions of use set for each model.
- [Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/947/oj): EU drone rules. Spraying falls in the specific category and needs an operational authorisation.
- [Directive 2009/128/EC, art. 9](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/128/oj): EU ban on aerial spraying, with national derogations under strict conditions.

## What you need

- A permit under PflSchG §18 from the state plant protection service for the steep-slope areas to be treated. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Antragstellung_Drohneneinsatz__PSM_.pdf))
- A specific-category operational authorisation from the state aviation authority. For applicants from many states, the LBA handles it. ([lba.de](https://www.lba.de/DE/Drohnen/Betriebsgenehmigungen/Betriebsgenehmigungen_node.html))
- Use only plant protection products that BVL has authorised or approved for drone application (BVL list). ([bvl.bund.de](https://www.bvl.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/04_Pflanzenschutzmittel/psm_drohnen.html))
- The drone's sprayer must be on the JKI list of suitable sprayers for drones in steep-slope viticulture, and its conditions of use (speed, height) apply. ([daps.julius-kuehn.de](https://daps.julius-kuehn.de/drohnen/suche))
- Operators must hold the certificate of competence (Sachkundenachweis, §9 PflSchG). In Baden-Württemberg a qualified ground assistant must also be present at each operating site. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Anwendung_von_PSM_mit_Drohnen.pdf))
- Equipment inspection: in Baden-Württemberg, new drones must be checked within 6 months of first use and then every 6 calendar half-years. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Anwendung_von_PSM_mit_Drohnen.pdf))
- Record every application (§11 PflSchG). Since 1 January 2026 the records must be electronic and machine-readable (Regulation (EU) 2023/564). ([eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/564/oj))

## How to get authorised

1. Check that the vineyard counts as a steep slope under your state's criteria. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Antragstellung_Drohneneinsatz__PSM_.pdf))
2. Choose a drone model with a JKI-listed sprayer and have the equipment inspected. ([daps.julius-kuehn.de](https://daps.julius-kuehn.de/drohnen/suche))
3. Obtain the aviation operational authorisation. ([lba.de](https://www.lba.de/DE/Drohnen/Betriebsgenehmigungen/Betriebsgenehmigungen_node.html))
4. Apply for the §18 permit with a safety concept. In Baden-Württemberg, apply at least 6 calendar weeks before the planned spraying. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Antragstellung_Drohneneinsatz__PSM_.pdf))
5. Report each treatment date in advance (Baden-Württemberg: at least 24 hours before, via the reporting portal), inform the public and close paths. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Antragstellung_Drohneneinsatz__PSM_.pdf))
6. Keep a flight log and application records, and submit them to the authority if required. ([rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de](https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/RP-Internet/Themenportal/Landwirtschaft_und_Fischerei/Pflanzenschutz/Drohneneinsatz/Merkblatt_zur_Anwendung_von_PSM_mit_Drohnen.pdf))

## Operating limits for spraying

- Baden-Württemberg permit conditions (leaflet 03/2025): no application when horizontal wind exceeds 5 m/s or gusts impair application, once thermals start, or above 25 °C in the shade.
- Flight speed and height above the crop are set per drone model in the JKI list and are mandatory (BVL NZ184).
- In Baden-Württemberg, nature reserves and natural monuments must not be sprayed.

## Good to know

- In March 2026, based on new trial results, BVL dropped the 2 m untreated inner margin at the field edge that applied to the DJI Agras T50 with 2 rotary atomisers.
- Drones for other arable or fruit crops are not covered by §18 permits. An EU proposal of December 2025 (COM(2025) 1021) could change this, but it does not apply yet.

> 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.

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