Legal drone plant protection is on track: new obstacles have been cleared

(Photo: Pixabay)

The regulatory environment for legal drone plant protection in Hungary has already been implemented in recent years, largely thanks to the joint work of Nébih and the Ministry of Agriculture (AM), and can be considered to be of full value.

In our country, only spraying drones with marketing authorization can be sold, purchased and operated

In order for these conditions to be met, the manufacturer or the distributor must register the spraying drones for a type certification procedure with the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE). Producers can currently choose from 17 licensed types. The register of the types of spraying drones licensed for marketing can be viewed continuously and up-to-date on the website of the MATE University Laboratory Center (“Register of Plant Protection Machines Licensed for Marketing”). It is necessary to register the purchased spraying drone on the electronic interface of the Aviation Authority. In addition, liability insurance must be taken out for the operations to be carried out with the drone, similarly to vehicles participating in road traffic.

It is an important step forward that the personal conditions related to legal drone plant protection can now be fully met

Nébih has published the register of plant protection drone pilots on its website, which is constantly expanding. The office has already established a system for obtaining the drone pilot’s license and plant protection drone pilot qualification required for registration, which also works effectively. The special training necessary to obtain a drone pilot license, as well as the theoretical and practical exam, is coordinated by the Civil Aviation Authority. For the crop protection drone pilot qualification, the so-called bachelor’s degree and then pass an exam at an accredited exam center.

It is important to know that only plant protection agents and products with a plant protection effect can be distributed with a drone that has a specific permit for this

An existing permit for air or ground application is not sufficient! The license holders have already applied to the authority for the extension of the authorization document of some substances, which are being assessed. Soon, substances and preparations approved for drone application will also be available.

Nébih