Abstract
The advent of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, promises to revolutionize precision agriculture. By enabling the targeted application of plant protection products (PPPs), drones offer significant environmental benefits, reduced costs, and increased operator safety compared to traditional ground-based machinery. However, their deployment in the European Union is not straightforward. Operators face a complex and high-stakes regulatory environment governed by two distinct and parallel legal frameworks: EU-wide aviation safety rules and EU-wide (but nationally implemented) pesticide application laws. This article analyzes this dual-pillar regulatory system. It first examines the EU aviation framework, which categorizes all pesticide spraying as a ‘specific’ operation requiring a formal risk assessment (SORA) or adherence to a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment. It then investigates the critical barrier of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUPD), which enforces a general ban on all aerial spraying, penetrable only via national derogations. The analysis concludes that while a clear path for authorization exists, its complexity requires a harmonized approach between aviation and agricultural authorities to unlock the full potential of this technology.