# Agricultural drone spraying rules in Switzerland

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

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

## Legal status

**Allowed with authorisation.** Allowed with authorisation. Spraying plant protection products or fertilisers by drone needs a FOCA authorisation, normally based on PDRA-S01 plus the AGRI supplementary form. The drone model must be approved by Agroscope and each drone spray-tested every three years. Products authorised for ground use may be used and need no special aerial approval.

## Who regulates it

- **Aviation:** [Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA (BAZL/OFAC/UFAC))](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de)
- **Environment:** [Federal Office for the Environment (plant protection product user permits) (FOEN (BAFU/OFEV/UFAM))](https://www.permis-pph.admin.ch/de)

## Legal basis

- [VRV-L (SR 748.121.11), art. 9(1)](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de): Dropping or spraying objects or liquids in flight is allowed only with FOCA authorisation.
- [Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ChemRRV/ORRChim, SR 814.81), art. 4](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2005/478/de): Spraying plant protection products, biocides and fertilisers from the air needs an application permit, issued by FOCA with the agreement of FOPH, FOAG and FOEN.
- [FOCA form FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI (V1.3, April 2026)](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/WQumT6t35D1A/FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI_%20V1.3_DE%20(3).docx): Simplified procedure and extra operating conditions (A to R) for drone spraying of plant protection products and fertilisers.
- [PDRA-S01 (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, AMC, as applied by FOCA)](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/pdra-de): Predefined risk assessment that forms the usual basis of the operational authorisation.

## What you need

- A FOCA authorisation in the specific category (usually PDRA-S01) plus the AGRI supplementary form. Apply at least 2 months before the planned flight. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))
- The drone model must be approved by Agroscope (once per model). ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))
- Each drone (serial number) must pass a spray test by a body approved by FOAG before first use and every three years. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))
- The operator must employ at least one person with a plant protection product user permit (SR 814.812.34). Staff handling products must hold one or be supervised by a holder. ([permis-pph.admin.ch](https://www.permis-pph.admin.ch/de))
- Use only authorised plant protection products and fertilisers, following their conditions of use. No specific aerial approval is required. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/WQumT6t35D1A/FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI_%20V1.3_DE%20(3).docx))
- Record the treated plots and areas and the products and amounts applied. On request, tell the cantonal authority which areas were treated. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/WQumT6t35D1A/FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI_%20V1.3_DE%20(3).docx))

## How to get authorised

1. Choose an Agroscope-approved drone model and have each drone spray-tested. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))
2. Make sure at least one employee holds the plant protection product user permit. ([permis-pph.admin.ch](https://www.permis-pph.admin.ch/de))
3. Fill in the PDRA-S01 application, the AGRI supplementary form, the list of pilots and drones and the pilot training declaration, and prepare an operations manual. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/pdra-de))
4. Send the complete, signed application to FOCA (rpas@bazl.admin.ch) at least 2 months before flying. ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))
5. In the cantons of Valais, Vaud and Geneva, check the extra rules in force since 15 April 2026 (SafetySpray tool and radio, where helicopters also spray). ([bazl.admin.ch](https://www.bazl.admin.ch/de/spray-de))

## Operating limits for spraying

- Wind no more than 3 m/s, with gusts below 5 m/s; spraying is forbidden above 5 m/s or in strong thermals (FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI, N3).
- Air temperature in the shade no more than 25 °C, no icing conditions, visibility at least 1 km (N1, N2, N4).
- Horizontal speed no more than 5 m/s while spraying. Height no more than 6 m above ground while spraying (3 m above the crop in high-stem orchards) and 40 m in transit (B, C).
- Low crops and all herbicide treatments: at least 20 m from buildings, public facilities, private residential areas and people exposed to drift. With fine or medium droplets (VMD ≤ 340 µm), product-specific distances rise by 15 m, and products carrying an SPe 3 drift condition may not be applied by drone (K).
- Non-herbicide treatments of tall (space) crops such as vines and orchards: the same product-specific drift distances as ground sprayers apply (K). Minimum distances under ChemRRV and the Direct Payments Ordinance also apply.
- The flight route must be pre-programmed and flown automatically (except one-off herbicide spot treatments), and no one on the ground may come into contact with the product (I, J).

## Good to know

- Drone safety distances were revised at the start of 2026 based on new data.
- Under chemicals law, spraying organisms (e.g. beneficial organisms) needs no special permit, but FOCA authorisation is still needed for the flight.

> 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)
- [China](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules/china)
- [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)
- [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.

- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pulvecast.app
- App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/pulvecast/id6779816829