The EU asked agricultural sector stakeholders for their views on simplifying and updating industry regulations.
Mtech responded specifically regarding the need for changes in drone legislation. The changes are urgently needed to enable the development of expertise in new technologies in Finland.
Response to Call for Evidence for an Initiative / DG SANTE – Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus
We welcome and strongly support the Commission’s proposal to simplify and harmonise the regulatory framework for drones in agricultural applications.
Current barriers to adoption
The uptake of drones in agriculture is currently held back by fragmented and overly restrictive rules. In particular:
1. National processes for Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) approvals are slow, delaying safe deployment of drones Europe
2. The general prohibition on aerial application of plant protection products prevents farmers and contractors from using precision drones despite their environmental and safety benefits.
3. Testing practices related to the use of drones in crop protection product applications are unclear
Action to address any of these obstacles – or ideally all together – would deliver tangible benefits for farmers across Europe, while maintaining safety.
1. Reducing administrative burden – SORA application processes
The current system, where individual farmers are forced to apply SORA permit prior to the use of precision drones slows down adoption. This is exactly the type of burden the simplification package aims to remove. A harmonised EU-level framework would reduce complexity, provide equal access for farmers across Member States, and accelerate the safe uptake of drone technology. A simplified process should be deployed in agricultural use-cases when farmers or contractors are:
• deploying factory-made and CE-marked drones in operations,
• operations are taking place in agricultural land parcels identified within the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) in Member States
2. Harmonised testing and guidance for drone equipment
Testing in this context refers to verifying that a drone and its spraying equipment are suitable and safe for the application of plant protection products.
The guiding principle should be that factory-produced, CE-marked drones should not require re-testing before they have been in use for four years. Only after such a period there is a realistic risk that wear may have affected performance.
At present, there is no common EU-level guidance on how drones and related spraying equipment should be tested and validated before their use in the application of plant protection products.
Establishing EU-wide testing protocols and guidance for drone spraying systems would:
• Ensure consistent safety and performance standards across Member States.
• Provide clarity for national authorities when approving drone operations.
• Give farmers and contractors confidence that equipment has been validated under transparent, science-based rules.
• Accelerate the safe adoption of innovative technologies while maintaining high levels of protection for health and the environment.
The use of CE-marked, factory-produced drones already provides a strong baseline of safety and reliability. By combining CE compliance with proportionate re-testing requirements, the EU can create a balanced framework that ensures safety without creating unnecessary costs or delays.
3. Targeted and safe application of plant protection products
Drones enable highly targeted application of plant protection products, fully aligned with the Commission’s goal of “more targeted pesticide application under safe conditions.”
This results in:
• reduced off-target drift,
• less operator exposure,
• improved protection of sensitive habitats and water bodies.
Because drones are typically small devices, their cleaning is safer and more controlled than with large ground sprayers, further reducing operator and environmental risks.
4. Nordic and Finnish conditions
In Nordic region, natural conditions put farmers at a disadvantage: short growing seasons, wet soils, and unpredictable weather make it difficult to enter fields with heavy machinery in early spring and autumn. Drones overcome this by avoiding soil compaction and enabling timely, lightweight interventions.
5. Digitalisation and traceability
Drone technology can easily be integrated with digital farm management systems, enabling accurate, georeferenced application records. This strengthens traceability of crop protection products down to the field level – fully in line with initiatives such as CropLife Europe’s AgriGuide, which promotes digitalisation and traceability as a cornerstone of pesticide use.
6. Wider scope of application
Beyond field crops, drones have wider applications across the rural sectors:
• Forestry: safe and effective application of registered repellents and other approved plant protection products to prevent wildlife damage in young forests.
• Greenhouses: drones can support inspection, maintenance, and crop protection tasks in controlled environments where traditional machinery is impractical.
• Solar energy: in some Member States, drones are already used to clean and maintain solar panels, ensuring efficiency of renewable energy production.
7. Competitiveness, resilience, and rural entrepreneurship
Allowing drones under harmonised EU rules helps level the playing field for farmers in regions with natural disadvantages. It also opens opportunities for new rural entrepreneurship: unlike large ground machinery, drones require relatively low capital expenditure. This lowers the entry barrier for service providers and young entrepreneurs, creating new business models and rural employment.
Conclusion
Simplifying the regulatory framework for drones is fully consistent with the Commission’s objectives: reducing administrative burden, supporting competitiveness, enabling innovation, and ensuring targeted pesticide use under safe conditions. In Nordic countries, and especially in Finland, drones represent an essential enabler of sustainable, competitive, and resilient farming. Harmonised EU rules will allow farmers and entrepreneurs to deploy this technology effectively while maintaining the EU’s high standards for human health, animal health, and environmental protection.
4th Oct. 2025, Vantaa, Finland
Christian Jurvanen Chief Executive Officer Mtech Digital Solutions, Finland
Mikko Jääskeläinen Chief Commercial Officer Mtech Digital Solutions, Finland
Mikko Hakojärvi Chief Agronomist Mtech Digital Solutions, Finland