Agricultural drone spraying rules in the United Kingdom
What you need to spray crops with a drone in the United Kingdom: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.
Legal status
Restricted or by exception. Restricted. Applying pesticides by drone counts as aerial spraying, which is banned unless HSE issues an Aerial Spraying Permit for each operation. There are currently no commercial product authorisations for drone use, so drone spraying is only possible under a small number of Extrapolated Trials Permits, together with CAA authorisation.
Who regulates it
- Agriculture: Health and Safety Executive – Chemicals Regulation Division (HSE)
- Aviation: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
Legal basis
- Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1657): Aerial spraying is prohibited unless HSE issues a permit for operations under an approved Application Plan. The regulations also cover user certificates and equipment inspection.
- Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/2131): Product authorisations, label conditions and record keeping (3 years for professional users).
- UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025: Government policy: drone spraying is 'currently only allowed under restrictive permits'. Action 6 is to review whether the rules, including per-operation permits, should change.
What you need
- A product authorisation that covers drone use. None exists commercially yet, so in practice you need an Extrapolated Trials Permit (lasts 3 years, limited area). (hse.gov.uk)
- An HSE Aerial Spraying Permit for each spray operation, based on an approved Application Plan. (hse.gov.uk)
- Operator certificates: HSE currently accepts PA1 plus PA6 (or equivalent). A drone-specific qualification may replace this. (hse.gov.uk)
- A CAA operational authorisation for the drone operation (specific category). (caa.co.uk)
- Drone application equipment must be inspected (NSTS) before the fifth anniversary of purchase, then every 3 years. (hse.gov.uk)
- Warn the public, restrict access to treated areas, consider risks to water, and keep records of each application. (hse.gov.uk)
How to get authorised
- Get an Extrapolated Trials Permit, or confirm a product authorisation covers drone application. (hse.gov.uk)
- Obtain CAA operational authorisation for the drone. (caa.co.uk)
- Complete the HSE Application Plan template and submit it with a map of the area. (hse.gov.uk)
- Apply for the Aerial Spraying Permit: explain why there is no viable alternative, give timing, product, certificates, CAA authorisation, drift-reduction technology and grid references. HSE aims to decide within 10 days, but allow at least a month near conservation areas. (hse.gov.uk)
- Spray only under the permit conditions, warn the public and keep records. (hse.gov.uk)
Operating limits for spraying
- Use only the spray volumes on the label for ground equipment. Low-volume and ultra-low-volume formulations are not permitted with drones (HSE).
- Keep appropriate vertical and horizontal distances from people, livestock and buildings, as set by the product authorisation and CAA conditions (HSE).
- Near conservation areas HSE consults the nature conservation bodies and may add controls. For one crewed aerial use, 'close to' was set at 150 m (HSE example).
Good to know
- HSE says its interim PA1 + PA6 certificate advice is proportionate while drone use is very limited and is under review.
- An Aerial Spraying Permit is needed every time, including for every drone application.
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.