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Agricultural drone spraying rules in Japan

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

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Allowed with authorisation. Spraying pesticides by drone is legal. It counts as dropping objects and carrying hazardous materials under the Civil Aeronautics Act, so it needs MLIT approval, except that since 2026 no approval is needed when a licensed pilot flies a certified drone over farmland under the conditions of the MLIT circular of 23 March 2026.

Who regulates it

What you need

  • Register the drone (100 g or more) with MLIT and display its registration code. (mlit.go.jp)
  • Obtain MLIT approval for dropping objects and carrying hazardous materials through DIPS 2.0, unless the 2026 no-approval conditions are met. (mlit.go.jp)
  • For the no-approval route: first- or second-class drone pilot licence, a drone with type 1 or type 2 airworthiness certification, and at least 5 practice sprays with water. (mlit.go.jp)
  • Notify the flight plan before each flight and keep a flight log. (mlit.go.jp)
  • Use a registered pesticide whose label method is drone (unmanned aircraft) application, or a plain 'spraying' method whose dilution and rate you can keep, and follow the label. (maff.go.jp)
  • Tell nearby schools, hospitals, residents, beekeepers and organic farmers the date, purpose, pesticide and your contact details in good time. (maff.go.jp)

How to get authorised

  1. Register the drone in DIPS 2.0. (mlit.go.jp)
  2. Obtain a drone pilot licence if you want to use the no-approval route (otherwise apply for approval). (mlit.go.jp)
  3. Apply for approval for dropping objects and hazardous materials, or confirm that every condition of the 2026 circular is met. (mlit.go.jp)
  4. Make a spraying plan (area, date, crop, pesticide, rate) and inform neighbours. (maff.go.jp)
  5. Notify the flight plan in DIPS 2.0, spray, then record the flight in the log. (mlit.go.jp)

Operating limits for spraying

  • If the manufacturer gives no spraying method: fly at most 2 m above the crop and spray only when wind at 1.5 m above ground is 3 m/s or less (MAFF guideline, part 2-3(4)).
  • No-approval route: only over farmland or forest owned or managed by the operator or people involved, at most 4 m above ground, water or crop (MLIT circular, 3(5)).
  • No-approval route: stop at once if gusts of 5 m/s or more occur; do not fly in rain, fog, or near schools, hospitals, busy roads, railways or high-voltage lines (MLIT circular, 3(9)).
  • No-approval route: night or beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights only with drones under 25 kg, on autopilot; drones of 25 kg or more need third-party liability insurance (MLIT circular).

Good to know

  • About 70% of drone accidents reported to MLIT in fiscal 2024 happened during pesticide spraying, mostly from hitting power lines (MAFF).
  • Drift or run-off accidents must be reported to the prefecture's pesticide office; aviation accidents are reported through DIPS 2.0.

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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