Overview

These regional guidelines, developed by CropLife Africa Middle East, provide a blueprint for how countries can safely and effectively regulate the use of drones (Unmanned Aerial Spray Systems – UASS) in crop protection.
They serve as a practical reference for governments, regulators, service providers, and the private sector working to modernize agricultural practices through precision spraying and aerial pest management.

Drones offer enormous potential to improve efficiency, reduce human exposure to chemicals and support sustainable, climate-smart agriculture. However, without clear and harmonized regulations, their use can create safety and environmental risks. These guidelines aim to ensure safe adoption while enabling innovation and cross-border consistency.

1. Purpose and Objectives

The guidelines seek to:

• Support national authorities in developing or updating drone and pesticide regulations.

• Ensure safe, effective and environmentally sound drone application of crop protection products.

• Promote regional harmonization across Africa and the Middle East to facilitate trade and technology transfer.

• Establish a framework for capacity building, certification, and data monitoring.

2. Key Components of the Framework

A. Regulatory Alignment

• Integrate drone operations within existing aviation and pesticide-control laws.

• Define clear mandates for aviation regulators, pesticide authorities, and environmental agencies.

• Require drone operators and service providers to be licensed and certified, with clear accountability for compliance.

• Mandate that crop protection products intended for drone use are registered, tested, and labelled for aerial application.

B. Operational Safety and Stewardship

• Establish technical standards for spraying: droplet size, nozzle type, drift reduction, and buffer zones.

• Require environmental protection measures to prevent contamination of water bodies, wildlife and non-target crops.

• Enforce pilot/operator training in pesticide handling, drone maintenance and emergency response.

• Integrate drones into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to minimize pesticide use and risk.

C. Data Collection and Monitoring

• Encourage regulators and operators to collect data on:

  • Application rates and droplet uniformity

  • Weather conditions during spraying

  • Drift and residue monitoring

  • Operator performance and safety records

• Promote adaptive regulation, allowing updates as drone technology evolves.

D. Collaboration and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

• Involve all relevant sectors — aviation, agriculture, environment, and health — in regulatory formulation.

• Foster partnerships between governments, research institutions, drone operators, and chemical manufacturers.

• Encourage transparency, information-sharing, and regional cooperation to avoid fragmented policies.

3. Implementation Roadmap

The guidelines recommend a phased approach for countries:

1. Assessment Phase: Review existing laws and identify regulatory gaps.

2. Pilot Phase: Approve controlled drone spraying projects for data collection.

3. Legislation Phase: Draft or amend laws to incorporate drone operations and pesticide application standards.

4. Capacity Building Phase: Train regulators, operators, and inspectors.

5. Monitoring Phase: Continuously track performance and update frameworks as needed.

4. Benefits of Adoption

Implementing these guidelines helps:

• Reduce human exposure to hazardous pesticides.

• Improve precision and efficiency in spraying operations.

• Lower environmental impact through drift management and targeted application.

• Strengthen regulatory credibility and harmonize standards across regions.

• Empower local industries to safely scale drone-based agricultural services.

5. Recommended Use for Stakeholders

6. Reference

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